J Trauma
-
The base deficit, an important indicator of physiologic derangement after severe injury in adults, has not been specifically examined in the pediatric trauma population. The purpose of this study was to assess the ability of the admission base deficit to predict injury severity and outcome in the pediatric trauma population. ⋯ In injured children, the admission base deficit reflects injury severity and predicts mortality. The probability of mortality increases precipitously in children with a base deficit less than -8 mEq/L, and should alert the clinician to the presence of potentially lethal injuries or uncompensated shock.
-
The "contrast blush" (CB) computed tomographic (CT) scan finding has often been used clinically as an indicator for therapeutic splenic intervention (SI) (splenectomy, splenorrhaphy, or angiographic embolization). We sought to examine the prognostic significance of this finding. ⋯ CB is not an absolute indication for an operative or angiographic intervention. Factors such as patient age, grade of injury, and presence of hypotension need to be considered in the clinical management of these patients.