Profile and Outcome of Pediatric Trauma Admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in North India

Summary A retrospective study was conducted to analyze the profile and outcomes of trauma patients admitted to pediatric intensive care unit in a tertiary hospital. The three-month postevent outcome was evaluated based on the Glasgow outcome scale. A total of 118 patients were enrolled. Vehicular accidents ( n = 52; 44.5%) and falls ( n = 51; 43.2%) were the main trauma modes. The incidence of unrestrained passengers in vehicular accidents was high (98%). Unsupervised play in toddlers was the main mechanism of falls. Ambulance transport was done in 48.3% of patients. Abnormal computed tomography head was seen in 72.9% ( n = 86) patients. Mortality rate was 8.5%. On multivariate analysis, Glasgow coma scale (GCS) <8 and injury severity score (ISS) >17 predicted unfavorable outcomes. Screening for head trauma is important in all sick pediatric trauma patients requiring intensive care unit. The study identifies the need for increasing awareness on child-proofing and supervision of toddlers’ play and restraining passengers in high-speed vehicles to prevent serious injuries. Ensuring safe ambulance transport may improve trauma outcomes.