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BACKGROUND: Adult brain injury studies recommend maintaining cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) above 70 mm Hg. We evaluated CPP and outcome in brain-injured children. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the hospital courses of children at two Level I trauma centers who required insertion of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitors for management of traumatic brain injury. ICP, CPP, and mean arterial pressure were evaluated hourly, and means were calculated for the first 48 hours after injury. RESULTS: Of 188 brain-injured children, 118 had ICP monitors placed within 24 hours of injury. They suffered severe brain injury, with average admitting Glasgow Coma Scale scores of 6 +/- 3. Overall mortality rate was 28%. No patient with mean CPP less than 40 mm Hg survived. Among patients with mean CPP in deciles of 40 to 49, 50 to 59, 60 to 69, or 70 mm Hg, no significant difference in Glasgow Outcome Scale distribution existed. CONCLUSION: Low mean CPP was lethal. In children with survivable brain injury (mean CPP > 40 mm Hg), CPP did not stratify patients for risk of adverse outcome.

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BACKGROUND: Injured children represent 25% of all injured patients in the United States and have unique needs that may require treatment at a pediatric trauma center or a trauma center with pediatric commitment. This work attempts to determine if there is existing evidence that pediatric trauma centers, trauma centers with pediatric commitment, or trauma systems have improved the care of injured children. METHODS: Published literature evaluating the impact on injured children of pediatric trauma centers, trauma centers with pediatric commitment, or trauma systems was reviewed. The studies were divided by the methodology used for evaluation: panel studies, trauma registry studies, and population-based studies. RESULTS: Of the 18 studies reviewed, only 2 population-based studies evaluated the impact of trauma centers or systems on children. One found that a trauma center did not improve the injured child's risk of death. The other found that a statewide trauma system improved the risk of death in seriously injured children. A third population-based study found improved risk of death if the child was treated at an urban trauma center. CONCLUSION: Further analysis is necessary to demonstrate whether trauma systems make a difference in pediatric outcome. Injury prevention will have the greatest impact on future pediatric injury outcomes.

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BACKGROUND: Peritoneal fluid on abdominal computed tomographic (CT) scan in the absence of solid-organ injury suggests a bowel injury. We sought to determine the significance of peritoneal fluid as the sole finding on abdominal CT scans obtained to evaluate injured pediatric patients. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of abdominal CT scans obtained during the initial survey of blunt trauma patients less than 19 years old during a 5-year period (1991-1995). All patients received intravenous and oral contrast agents. All CT scans were read by a staff radiologist. All CT scan results were retrospectively verified by one of the authors. RESULTS: Of the 259 scans, 157 (59%) were read as normal; 76 (31%) demonstrated solid-organ injury or pelvic fracture; 2 (1%) had pneumoperitoneum and 24 (9%) had peritoneal fluid as the only finding. Quantification of the fluid was done using a previously described method. Of the 16 patients with a small amount of fluid, only 2 (12%) required celiotomy. Of the eight patients with a moderate amount of fluid, four (50%) required celiotomy. At celiotomy, the six patients all had small-bowel injuries. No abdominal CT scan demonstrated extravasation of oral contrast. CONCLUSION: Intra-abdominal fluid as the sole finding on abdominal CT scan does not mandate immediate celiotomy in the bluntly injured pediatric patient. The patient with fluid in more than one location has a 50% chance of bowel injury. We also conclude that extravasated enteral contrast is rarely present to aid in the diagnosis of bowel injury in children.

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PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine which imaging study, upper gastrointestinal series (UGI) or abdominal ultrasonography (US), is more cost-effective in diagnosing infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS) using a decision analysis model. METHODS: Probabilities were calculated from a review of the records of all infants less than 6 months of age referred for UGI or US to rule out IHPS over a 3-year period from January 1992 to December 1995. Cost-effectiveness was determined from hospital charges for each imaging study and its possible outcomes. RESULTS: The positive predictive value of UGI was 1.0 and US was 0.98 in the 246 infants evaluated for possible IHPS. In patients who had an initially normal study finding (UGI or US), 25% of patients undergoing US first required a second study for persistent symptoms, whereas only 6% of patients who had a negative initial UGI finding required a second study. CONCLUSIONS: Cost analysis found UGI to be more cost-effective than US because fewer secondary studies were required. UGI provides information regarding other pathological conditions as compared with US.

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PURPOSE: To analyze changes in the clinical condition at presentation and methods of establishing the diagnosis of infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). METHODS: Retrospective review of patients who underwent pyloromyotomy (PM) for suspected IHPS at two institutions from 1969 through 1994 was performed. For the purposes of comparison, the population was divided into five equal time periods. RESULTS: Over the 25-year period, 901 infants underwent PM. Patients presented at a younger age, weighed more, and had a shorter length of illness in the most recent time period. Hypochloremic alkalosis was found half as frequently in the most recent time period compared to the earliest group. A palpable pyloric tumor was present in 79% of patients in the earliest time period compared with 23% in the most recent time period. Sixty-one percent of patients in the earliest group and 96% in the latest group underwent an imaging study, reflecting the referring physician's evaluation before referral to the surgeon. CONCLUSIONS: Currently, patients with IHPS less frequently present with the clinical hallmarks of the disease. The use of imaging studies to establish the diagnosis has become common practice. The result has been the diagnosis of IHPS before alkalosis has developed, a shorter clinical course, less morbidity, and a shorter postoperative hospital stay.

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BACKGROUND: Few references exist regarding contemporary complications of pyloromyotomy (PM) for infantile hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (IHPS). Therefore, we reviewed the frequency and outcome of patients with IHPS who developed complications from PM. METHOD: A 25-year retrospective review was performed in two populations. The first group included all infants who had a PM for IHPS at two pediatric surgery centers. The second group included all infants referred from other institutions who developed complications following PM for IHPS. RESULTS: Between 1969 and 1994, 901 PMs were performed. Intraoperative complications occurred in 40 patients (4%), including 39 duodenal perforations and 1 difficult intubation requiring prolonged ventilation. No unrecognized duodenal perforations or incomplete PMs were found. Postoperative complications developed in 52 patients (6%). The wound infection rate was less than 1%. Postoperative vomiting occurred in 31 infants (3%). The mortality rate was 0.1%, with 1 death due to sepsis from delayed diagnosis of Hirschsprung's disease. During the same study period, 11 patients were referred from other hospitals for postoperative complications. Five had persistent vomiting treated successfully with expectant management. Six infants needed reoperation: 3 for persistent IHPS, 1 for gastric outlet obstruction, and 1 for small bowel obstruction secondary to adhesions; 1 required wound abscess drainage. CONCLUSION: Pyloromyotomy is not without complications. Duodenal perforation should be infrequent, but when it occurs, it can usually be readily recognized and treated with minimal morbidity. Postoperative vomiting can be managed nonoperatively, but if it persists longer than 5 days, radiologic evaluation should be performed. Incomplete PM is uncommon and should not occur. A second myotomy is needed when the diagnosis of incomplete myotomy is established. A single standard of care should be expected of all surgeons who perform PM for IHPS.

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BACKGROUND: During the years 1987-1991, a statewide trauma system was implemented in Oregon (Ore) but not in Washington (Wash). Incidence of hospitalization, frequency of death and risk-adjusted odds of death for injured children (< 19 years) in the two adjacent states were compared for two time periods (1985-1987 and 1991-1993). METHODS: State populations of injured children (International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision-Clinical Modification, code 800-959) were identified through a Hospital Discharge Index. Hospitals in counties with a population density < 50 persons/square mile were designated rural. Incidence rates are events/10,000 pediatric population per year. RESULTS: The pediatric population increased in both states (Ore: 687,000-758,000; Wash: 1,159,000-1,336,000). Incidence of hospitalization for all injured children in entire states declined (Ore: 66.5-38.5; Wash: 54-33); also in rural hospitals (Ore: 67.5-32; Wash: 48 to 31). Seriously injured children (score on the Injury Severity Scale > 15) had a lower incidence in 1991-1993 of admission to rural hospitals (Ore: 2.98; Wash: 2.82) compared with incidence for entire states (Ore: 4.61; Wash: 4.62); in 1985-1987 the incidence was not different. Furthermore risk adjusted odds of death for seriously injured children was significantly lower in Oregon than in Washington in the later time period. CONCLUSION: Both states show a similar temporal trend toward a declining frequency of death for children hospitalized with injuries. Injury prevention strategies appear to have reduced the number of serious injuries in both states. However, seriously injured children demonstrated a reduced risk of death in Oregon, consistent with benefit from a statewide trauma system.

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OBJECTIVE: To measure the prevalence of and characterize coagulopathy in patients with blunt brain injury. DESIGN: Retrospective observation study based on review of medical records. SETTING: Acutely injured patients admitted to a level I trauma center. PATIENTS: One hundred fifty-nine patients with evidence of blunt head trauma who had computed tomography of the brain during initial evaluation and a coagulopathy score assigned based on 5 laboratory tests: platelet count, prothrombin time, partial thromboplastin time, fibrinogen level, and D-dimer level. The disseminated intravascular coagulation score ranged from 0 (no coagulopathy) to 15 (severe coagulopathy). Only individuals with intracranial injury based on computed tomography of the brain were designated as brain injured. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Presence of coagulopathy, progression of brain injury, and death. RESULTS: Among the 91 patients with brain injury, 41% had coagulopathy (disseminated intravascular coagulation score > or = 5). Of the 68 patients without brain injury, 25% had coagulopathy. The patients with brain injury who developed profound depletion of fibrinogen did so within 4 hours of injury. There were 28 deaths (26 in the group with brain injury and 2 in the group without brain injury). Among patients with brain injury, those with coagulopathy more frequently died (P < .05 by chi 2 analysis). Patients with brain injury and coagulopathy deteriorated more frequently based on computed tomography criteria. CONCLUSIONS: After blunt brain injury, a disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome can lead to consumptive coagulopathy that is associated with a higher frequency of death. The syndrome develops within 1 to 4 hours after injury. Therapeutic interventions need to be implemented immediately to be effective.

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