Epidemiology of Trauma

Injury:

            - Leading cause of death in children after the 1st year of life

            - Causes 40% of deaths ages 1-4 years

            - Causes 70% of deaths ages 5-9 years

            - Causes 22,000 childhood deaths each year

            - 6,000,000 hospitalizations per year

            - Causes >100,000 long-term disabilities in children

 

Childhood Causes of Death

Trauma                                  22,000

Congenital anomalies         8,556

SIDS                                        5349

Cancer                                    527

                                                14,432

 

Causes of Death, Age Specific

          Infants

-          Child abuse

-          Suffocation

-          MV Trauma

-          Fires

Preschool

-          Fires

-          Drowning

-          MV Trauma

School age

-          Cycling

-          Pedestrian

Adolescents

-          MV Trauma

-          Homicide

-          Suicide

 

Primary Cause of Childhood Death

-          Airway compromised

-          Hypovolemic shock

-          CNS injury

-          All lead to progressive hypoxia and metabolic acidosis

 

Pre-Hospital Arrest

                        -    95% fatal

           

                        Causes:
                                    -    Tension PTX                                            -    Pericardial tamponade

                                    -    Severe intra-abdominal hemorrhage   -    Severe head injury

 

 

 

 

ABCDE’s of ATLS

 

-   Airway

-   Breathing

-   Circulation

-   Disability

-   Exposure

 

Airway Management

                              -   Supplemental oxygen

                              -    Jaw thrust

-   Remove any foreign body

-   Endotracheal intubation with in-line traction for semiconscious (GCS<S) or comatose  patient

-   Awake intubation contraindicated due to ICP

-   Surgical airway if necessary     

 

Airway, child specific

-   Large tongue

-   Larynx/trachea smaller

-   Larynx more anterior

-   Floppy epiglottis

-   Short trachea

 

Breathing

-  Adequate ventilation

-  Oxygen saturation

-  End tidal CO2

-  Chest wall motion

-  Breath sounds

 

Breathing

-  Beware of tension PTX

-  Tracheal deviation to opposite side

-  Respiratory distress

-  Decreased breath sounds

-  Hyperresonance

-  Subcutaneous emphysema

                                

Treatment, Angiocath, Chest Tube

Circulation

-  Venous access

         - Peripheral IV

         - Central Line

         -  Intraosseous

 

 

 

Circulation

-  Shock = Inadequate end organ O2@ delivery

-  Pediatric compensatory mechanism for shock tachycardia until…

-  Pediatric blood volume 70-80cc/kg

          -  Hypotension occurs with 25%blood volume loss

          -  Check peripheral perfusion (cap-refill) 

 

Circulation

-  Fluid resuscitation

           -  Warm isotonic crystalloid (LR or NS) 20 ml/kg

           -  Repeat 20ml/kg bolus LR or NS

           -   Little or no response, tyransfuse 10-20ml/kg packed cells

 

-  OPERATE!

 

Disability

-   Level of consciousness

-                                                                            -  A – Awake

            -  V – Verbal

            -  P  – Pain

            -  U – Unresponsive

 

-    Pupillary check

-   Deficitis

 

Exposure and Environment

-   Keep patient warm

             - Warm trauma room  

             -  Warming lights

             -  Bair-hugger          

             -  Warm fluids

 

Hypotension: What is the Cause?        

-   Eliminate body cavities

              -  Chest, right, left – HTX/PTX

              -   Abdomen – intraabdominal hemorrgahe

              -   Pelvis – sever FX with retroperitoneal hematoma

              -   Cardia – confusion, pericardial tamponade, aorta

 

-   External blood loss

-   Spinal cord injury

 

 

Initial X-Rays

-   Chest x-ray

-   PTX/HTX, rib fxs, mediastinal widening, diaphragmatic ruptors

-   C-Spine

               -   Fx, subluxation, AOD

-   Pelvis

 

Abdominal Trauma in Children

-   Accounts for 5 – 7% of trauma admissions

            - Leading cause of death in children

            -  85% as the result of blunt trauma

                        MVC/occupant        32%

                        MVC/pedestrian     27%

                        Falls                            13%

                        Bicycle                       12%

                        Other causes             16%

 

Abdominal Signs

-  Tenderness

-   Distension

-   Pelvic FC

-   Chest trauma

-   Gross hematura

-   Hct  < 25%

-   Hypotension

-   Lap belt mark, other contusion

 

Abdominal Injury Assessment

-  Physical exam

-  Laboratory tests

-  Radiologic examinations

-  Peritoneal lavage

 

Physical Exam

- Very reliable if

-  Examiner is experienced

            -  Patient has normal sensorium

            -  EtOH negative

-  Serial exams increase accuracy

-  Change in exam is significant

 

Laboratory Tests

-  Hemoglobin

             -  Caveat….volume constructed state

-  Amylase

             -  May be normal despite injury

             -  Intestine, pancreas, salivary gland

-  Urinalysis

             -  Hematuria

 

Surgical Indications

             -  Persisitant hemdynamic instability despite “adequate” resuscitation

 -  Transfusion of > ½ blood volume

 -   Perionitis

 -   Pneumoperitoneum

 

 

 

Radiological Assessment of Abdominal Injury

 -  Indication for Imaging

-  Hemodynamic stability

-  Abdominal tenderness

-  Abdominal distention

            -  Abrasions/contusions

            -  Gross hematuria

            -  High risk mechanism (eg Lap belt injury)

            -  Neurologic impairment (uncertain physical exam)

 

Radiologic Choices

-  CT scan

-  Ultrasound

-  MRI (no)

-  Plain films

-  Angio

 

CT Scan

- Panoramic View

- Peritoneal lavage

 

Physical Exam

- Very reliable if

- Examiner is experienced

- Patient has a normal sensorium

- EtOH negative

- Serial exams increase accuracy

- Change in exam is significant

 

Laboratory Tests

- Hemeglobin

- Caveat…volume contracted state

 

- Amylase

- May be normal despite injury

- Intestine, pancreas, salivary gland

- Urinalysis

- Hematuria

 

Surgical Indications

- Persistant hemodynamic instability despite “adequate” resuscitation

- Transfusion of ½ blood volume

- Peritonitis

- Pneumoperitoneum

 

Radiological Assessment of Abdominal Injury

- Indication for imaging

            - Hemodynamic stability

            - Abdominal tenderness

            - Abdominal distention

            - Abrasions/contusions

            - Gross hematuria

- High-risk mechanism (eg. Lap belt injury)

            - Neurologic impairment (uncertain physical exam)

           

Radiographic Choices

- CT Scan

- Ultrasound

- MRI (no)

- Plain films

- Angio

 

CT Scan

- Panoramic view

- Solid organ survey (liver, splean, pancreas, kidney)

- Lung imaging (PTX not seen on plain film)

- Pelvic fx

- ? Oral contrast – NO!!!

            - Risk of vomiting and aspiration

            - Minimal time for contrast distribution

            - Extravasation rare

 

Abdominal Ultrasound in Trauma

- Advantage

            - Quick bedside assessment for free intraperitoneal fluid even in the unstable pt.

            - Serial exams at bedside

- Disadvantage

            - User dependant

            - Limited information

- Not as accurate as CT

 

 

 

Diagnostic Peritoneal Lavage

- Initially developed to select patients for exploration

- Many DPL-positive injuries managed expectantly.

- False negatives

- Useful in patient with free fluid without solid organ injury

 

Treatment of Specific Organ Injuries

- Spleen          Conservative

- Liver                        Conservative

- Pancreas      Conservative??

- Kidney         Conservative

- Intestine       Operative

 

Splenic Injury

- Common site of injury in accidental trauma

- Diagnostic techniques similar to liver

- Grading system

- 90+% managed nonoperatively

 

Splenic Injury Symptoms

- Abdominal pain

- Nausea and vomiting

- Left shoulder pain (Kehr’s sign)

- Dyspnea

 

Splenic Injury Signs

- Abdominal tenderness (localized or diffuse)

- Abdominal distention

- Peritoneal signs

            - Muscular rigidity and guarding

            - Rebound tenderness

- Gray-Turner sign

- Abrasion/contusion in LUQ

 

Splenic Injury Radiographic Findings

- Lower left rib fxs

- Elevated left hemidiaphragm

- Pleural effusion (sympathetic)

- Gastric distention or displacement

 

CT Grade of Splenic Injury

- Grade I

            - Hematoma <10%

            - Laceration <1cm

 

 

 

CT Grade of Splenic Injury

- Grade II

- Hematoma 10-20% of volume

            - Laceration 1-3cm of pareochymal depth

 

CT Grade of Splenic Injury

- Grade III

- Hematoma 10-20% of volume

          - Laceration >3cm or <50% devascularized

 

CT Grade of Splenic Injury

- Grade IV

            - Hematoma >50% spleen volume

            - Laceration>3cm pareochymal depth or >50% devascularized

 

CT Grade of Splenic Injury

- Grade V

            - Shattered spleen

            - Completely avulsed spleen

 

Splenic Injury Management

- Nonoperative

            - Bed rest (??? How many days)

            - Follow Hgb level (??? How often)

            - Discharge with limited activity

- Operative

            - Splenorrhaphy

            - Splenectomy

 

Complications of Splenic Injury

- Reccurant bleeding

- Respiratory (atelectasis, effusion, pnumonia)

- Subphenic abscess

- Splenic cyst

- Pancreatic injury

- Missed intestinal injury with nonoperative management

 

Complications of Splenectomy

- Splenic function

            - clearance and phagocytosis

            - Antibody formation

            - Hematopoesis

 

 

- Overwhelming post-splenectomy sepsis

          - Less likely when compared to rate for medically indicated splenectomy

            - Prophylactic antibiotics

 

Liver Trauma

- Accounts for most death due to intra-abdominal injury

- Difficult to control bleeding at laparotomy

- 45% of those explored require drainage only

- Right lobe most commonly injured

- 90+% managed nonoperatively

 

Liver Trauma Clinical Findings

- RUQ pain

- Referred right shoulder pain

- Abdominal distention

- Peritoneal signs

- Unexplained hypotension

 

CT Findings in Liver Trauma

- CT grading of liver trauma similar to spleen

            - intraparenchymal hematoma

            - Laceration through capsule/hilum

            - Hemoperitoneum

 

Liver Trauma Operative Indications

- Refractory hemodynamic instability

- Transfusion >50% of blood volume

- Other injury requiring exploration

- Blush on CT with continued blood loss

-Arteriogram and coll

 

Complications of Liver Trauma

- Bile leak, biloma

- AV fistula

- Hemobilia

- Liver abscess

- Hepatic cyst

- Missed intestinal injury with nonoperative management

 

Pancreatic Trauma

- Most common cause of pediatric pancreatitis

- Common site after non-accidental trauma

- Usually a direct impact

            - Handle-bar, chair, etc.

 

 

 

Pancreatic Trauma

- Amylase elevated

            - may be a later sign

            - Sign of intestinal injury

            - Also seen with salivary gland injury

- Progressively worsening abdominal pain, distention, or vomiting

- Back pain

- Index of suspicion due to mechanism

 

Radiographic Findings in Pancreatic Trauma

- CT Scan

            - “boggy” pancreas

            - Peripancreatic fluid

            - Transection

- ERCP

 

Management of Pancreatic Trauma

- ObservationPercutaneuos external drainage

- ERCP

            - Ductal disruption - operate

- Exploration

 

Complications of Pancreatic Trauma

- Pancreatic pseudocyst + infection

- Necrotizing pancreatitus

- Sympathetic pleural effusions

 

Intestinal Trauma

- Difficult to diagnose

            - Often diagnosed within 12 to 24 hours post injury

- Injury mechanism may increase suspicion

            - Lap-belt contusion

            - Direct injury

- Initial mesenteric injury may lead to ischemia

            - Perforation or stricture are late findings

 

Clinical Findings in Intestinal Trauma

- Abdominal pain

- Abdominal tenderness

- Peritoneal signs

- Hemodynamic instability with stable hemoglobin

 

Lap-Belt Injury in Children

- Results from improper use of seat belt

- “Lap-Belt” complex

            -Seat belt echymosis

          -Nearly 86% risk of intestinal injury

-Intestinal perforation

-          CT scan

-          Free fluid without solid organ injury

-          Associated with 25% bowel injury rate

- Lumbar spine injury ( L2, L3, L4)

         

CT Findings in Intestinal Trauma

- Free intraperitoneum fluid in the absence of solid organ injury

- Pncumoperitoneum

- Mesenteric injury

            - Defect may be site of internal hernia

 

Management of Intestinal Trauma

- EXPLORITORY LAPAROTOMY

- Repair the injury if the patient is stable

- Damage control when unstable

 

Surgical Management of Abdominal Trauma

- Manage pancreatic injury

- Retroperitoneal hematoma

            - Non-expanding – Leave it alone

            - Expanding – explore, repair, ligate

            - From pelvic fx – STAY OUT

- Abdominal wall closure???

            - Consider Vac-pack or Bogata bag

 

Chest Trauma

- More common in boys

- Occurs often with other injuries

- Rarely require surgical intervention

 

Pathophysiology Chest Trauma

- Penetrating

            - Rare

            - Often iatrogenic (i. e. vents, ng tubes, thoracostomy tube and cvl)

 

Pathophysiology Chest Trauma

- Blunt

            - Most injuries

- Usually MVA or crush

 

Chest Trauma Diagnosis

- ABC’s

- Chest wall stability

- Subsequent emphysema

- Breath sounds

- Tracheal position

- Assess circulation

 

Chest Trauma Diagnosis

- CXR

- CT scan

- Bronchoscopy

- Esophagogram

- Angiogram

 

Initial Resuscitation

- Establish airway

- Needle decompression

- Chest tube

- Call for HELP (Intensivist, Surgeon, Anesthesia, Referral)

 

Chest Trauma

Unique Features in Children

- Thorax very pliable

- Mediastinum freely mobile

- Aerophagic

- Difficult IV access

 

Rib Fractures

- Unusual in children

- Marker of significant injury

- Present with chest pain and varying degree of respiratory distress

- Treat with analgesia and adequate pulmonary toilet

 

Pneumothorax

- Acute ventilatory embarrassment

- Collapse ipsilateral lung

- Needle decompression

- Chest tube

 

Tension Pneumothorax

- Collapse ipsilateral lung

- Displaced mediastinum

- Vascular collapse

- NO NEED FOR CXR – CHEST TUBE

 

Hemothorax

- Breath sounds diminished

- CXR

- Chest tube

- Thoracotomy (20% blood volume or 10/cc/kg/hr)

 

Pulmonary Contusion

- Common

- Often not apparent on initial CXR

- CT Scan

 

Pulmonary Contusion

- Edema hemorrage and bronchospasm

- Treatment is vigorus puminary toilet

 

Flail Chest

- Two or more ribs in two or more places

- Paradoxical motion in chest wall A

- Reduced ventilatory efficiency

- Increased work

 

Sternal Fracture

- Uncommon

- Marker Severe Injury

- Monitor x24 hrs

- Echocardiogram

- Analgesia

 

Aortic Injury

- Widened mediastinum

- Pleural cap

- 1st or 2nd rib fractures

- Displaced trachea and esophagus

- Aortagram

- ?Spiral CT

 

Penetrating Chest Trauma

- Rare

- ?Chest Tube

- ?ECHO

- ?Angiogram

- ?Esophagogram

- ?Bronchoscopy

- Most just observe!

 

Conclusion

- Injury is the leading cause of death in children

- Pediatric trauma has unique characteristics, which differ from adult trauma

- Critically injured children should be stabilized and transferred to pediatric trauma centers

- Improved efforts for trauma prevention are a necessity