Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2022 Dec 1;38(12):654-658.
doi: 10.1097/PEC.0000000000002665. Epub 2022 Oct 17.

No Difference in Mortality and Outcomes After Addition of a Nearby Pediatric Trauma Center

Ariana Naaseh  1 , Areg Grigorian, Michael Lekawa  1 , Matthew Dolich  1 , Sebastian Schubl  1 , Victor Joe  1 , Jeffry Nahmias  1
Affiliations

No Difference in Mortality and Outcomes After Addition of a Nearby Pediatric Trauma Center

Ariana Naaseh et al. Pediatr Emerg Care. .

Abstract

Objectives: Previous studies demonstrate that higher volume pediatric trauma centers (PTCs) offer improved outcomes. This study evaluated pediatric trauma volume and outcomes at an existing level I (L-I) adult and level II (L-II) PTC after the addition of a new children's hospital L-II PTC within a 2-mile radius, hypothesizing no difference in mortality and complications.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients aged 14 years or younger presenting to a single adult L-I and L-II PTC was performed. Patients from 2015-2016 (PRE) were compared with patients from 2018-2019 (POST) for mortality and complications using bivariate analyses.

Results: Compared with the PRE cohort, there were less patients in the POST cohort (277 vs 373). Patients in the POST cohort had higher rates of insurance coverage (91.3% vs 78.8%, P < 0.001), self-transportation (7.2% vs 2.7%, P < 0.01), and hospital admission (72.6% and 46.1%, P < 0.001). There was no difference in all complications and mortality (all P > 0.05) between the 2 cohorts.

Conclusions: After opening a second L-II PTC within a 2-mile radius, there was an increase in the rate of admissions and self-transportation to the preexisting L-II PTC. Despite a nearly 26% decrease in pediatric trauma volume, there was no difference in length of stay, hospital complications, or mortality.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

References

    1. Wesson DE. Pediatric trauma centers: coming of age. Texas Hear Inst J . 2012;39:871–873.
    1. Cunningham RM, Walton MA, Carter PM. The major causes of death in children and adolescents in the United States. N Engl J Med . 2018;379:2468–2475.
    1. Gilchrist J, Ballesteros MF, Parker EM. Vital signs: unintentional injury deaths among persons aged 0-19 years - United States, 2000–2009. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep . 2012;61:270–276.
    1. Borse N, Sleet DA, Moffett DB. CDC childhood injury report: patterns of unintentional injuries among 0- to 19-year olds in the United States, 2000–2006. Fam Community Health . 2009;32:189.
    1. Krug SE, Tuggle DWAmerican Academy of Pediatrics Section on Orthopaedics; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine; American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Critical Care; American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Surgery; American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Transport Medicine; American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Pediatric Emergency Medicine; Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America. Management of pediatric trauma. Pediatrics . 2008;121:849–854.

LinkOut - more resources