Joint Study Reveals Lower Mortality Rates in Children Treated at Pediatric Trauma Centers

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Joint Study Reveals Lower Mortality Rates in Children Treated at Pediatric Trauma Centers

Pittsburgh, Pa. - October 17, 2000 -

According to the study completed by trauma teams at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, children 16 and younger who sustain severe injuries following blunt or penetrating trauma, have the best overall outcome when treated in a pediatric trauma center rather than an adult trauma center.

The study, “Impact of Pediatric Trauma Centers on Mortality in a Statewide System,” was published in a recent issue of the Journal of Trauma. The data were collected through a retrospective analysis of 13,351 injured children between 1993 and 1997 by the Pennsylvania Trauma Systems Foundation, which is the governing body responsible for the accreditation of all trauma centers in the state.

According to the study’s lead author, Henri Ford, MD, “Children have special needs that are best met in a children’s hospital (with a full complement of pediatric services) that is committed to the care of injured children.” Dr. Ford is the director of the Benedum Pediatric Trauma Center at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.

In Pennsylvania there are four types of trauma centers: Level I Pediatric Trauma Centers (PTC), Level I Adult Trauma Centers (ATC 1), Level I Adult Trauma Centers with Added Qualifications in Pediatrics (ATC AQ) and Level II Adult Trauma Centers (ATC II). There are many differences between the various types of trauma centers with regard to their ability to treat injured children.

For instance, to be designated a PTC, a children’s hospital must have a full complement of pediatric surgical specialties, including pediatric general surgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic and cardiac surgery, as well as pediatric intensivists and anesthesiologists, available at all times. In contrast, to be designated an ATC AQ, the main requirement is a single pediatric general surgeon on call. Other pediatric surgical specialists are not required.

Mortality in children with head, liver or spleen injuries was considerably lower at PTCs when compared to any of the ATCs, according to data review. The mortality rate for children with liver injuries treated at any ATC was more than twice that of children treated at a PTC.