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Pediatric trauma center vs. adult trauma center: which is better?
Katie Russell1, Subarna Biswas2
1University of Utah Health, Primary Children's Hospital, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Insights
Pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) and adult trauma centers (ATCs) show similar outcomes for childhood injury. PTCs may offer long-term benefits through specialized, multidisciplinary care and regional collaboration opportunities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric trauma care
- Multidisciplinary medical facilities
- Comparative effectiveness research
Background:
- Pediatric trauma is a leading cause of mortality in children.
- Most pediatric trauma cases are treated at adult trauma centers (ATCs).
- Pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) are specialized facilities for pediatric injury care.
Approach:
- Review of the latest evidence comparing PTCs and ATCs.
- Analysis of multicenter studies on pediatric injury outcomes.
- Evaluation of differences in procedures and patient disposition.
Key Points:
- Recent studies show no significant differences in mortality or length of stay between PTCs and ATCs.
- PTCs performed fewer invasive procedures and CT scans.
- Children treated at PTCs had higher rates of discharge to home.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrating outcome differences between PTCs and ATCs is challenging.
- PTCs provide a multidisciplinary approach to pediatric trauma care.
- PTCs may offer long-term benefits and foster regional collaboration.
Purpose Of Review:
Pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) have been championed as multidisciplinary facilities specializing in the care of pediatric trauma, the leading cause of childhood mortality in the United States. 1 However, the vast majority of pediatric trauma is still seen in trauma centers focused on treating adults. This article reviews the latest evidence comparing the relative strengths of PTCs and adult trauma centers (ATCs) in treating childhood injury.
Recent Findings:
Recent multicenter studies comparing outcomes of pediatric injury in PTCs and ATCs have found no differences in mortality or hospital length of stay, contradicting earlier findings. However, fewer invasive procedures and CT scans were performed at PTCs, and more children were discharged back to their homes.
Summary:
It is difficult to demonstrate a difference in outcomes for children treated at PTCs vs. ATCs. However, PTCs do offer a multidisciplinary, nuanced approach to pediatric trauma care, which may result in long term benefits and offer opportunities for regional collaboration.
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