Pediatric trauma patients in Swedish ambulance services -a retrospective observational study of assessments, interventions, and clinical outcomes. 2024

Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
Centre for Prehospital Research, Faculty of Caring Science, Work Life and Social Welfare, University of Borås, Borås, SE-501 90, Sweden.

BACKGROUND Pediatric trauma patients constitute a significant portion of the trauma population treated by Swedish Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and trauma remains a notable cause of death among Swedish children. Previous research has identified potential challenges in prehospital assessments and interventions for pediatric patients. In Sweden, there is limited information available regarding pediatric trauma patients in the EMS. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of pediatric trauma patients within the Swedish EMS and describe the prehospital assessments, interventions, and clinical outcomes. METHODS This retrospective observational study was conducted in a region of Southwestern Sweden. A random sample from ambulance and hospital records from the year 2019 was selected. Inclusion criteria were children aged 0-16 years who were involved in trauma and assessed by EMS clinicians. RESULTS A total of 440 children were included in the study, representing 8.4% of the overall trauma cases. The median age was 9 years (IQR 3-12), and 60.5% were male. The leading causes of injury were low (34.8%) and high energy falls (21%), followed by traffic accidents. The children were assessed as severely injured in 4.5% of cases. A quarter of the children remained at the scene after assessment. Complete vital signs were assessed in 29.3% of children, and 81.8% of children were assessed according to the ABCDE structure. The most common intervention performed by prehospital professionals was the administration of medication. The mortality rate was 0.2%. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric trauma cases accounted for 8.4% of the overall trauma population with a variations in injury mechanisms and types. Vital sign assessments were incomplete for a significant proportion of children. The adherence to the ABCDE structure, however, was higher. The children remained at the scene after assessment requires further investigation for patient safety.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007223 Infant A child between 1 and 23 months of age. Infants
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D008297 Male Males
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D002675 Child, Preschool A child between the ages of 2 and 5. Children, Preschool,Preschool Child,Preschool Children
D004632 Emergency Medical Services Services specifically designed, staffed, and equipped for the emergency care of patients. Emergency Care,Emergency Health Services,Emergicenters,Prehospital Emergency Care,Emergency Care, Prehospital,Emergency Services, Medical,Medical Services, Emergency,Services, Emergency Medical,Emergency Health Service,Emergency Medical Service,Emergency Service, Medical,Emergicenter,Health Service, Emergency,Health Services, Emergency,Medical Emergency Service,Medical Emergency Services,Medical Service, Emergency,Service, Emergency Health,Service, Emergency Medical,Service, Medical Emergency,Services, Emergency Health,Services, Medical Emergency
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293 Adolescent A person 13 to 18 years of age. Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D000552 Ambulances A vehicle equipped for transporting patients in need of emergency care. Emergency Mobile Units,Mobile Emergency Units,Ambulance,Emergency Mobile Unit,Emergency Unit, Mobile,Emergency Units, Mobile,Mobile Emergency Unit,Mobile Unit, Emergency,Mobile Units, Emergency,Unit, Emergency Mobile,Unit, Mobile Emergency,Units, Emergency Mobile,Units, Mobile Emergency

Related Publications

Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
February 2025, Injury,
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
December 2023, Medicine,
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
December 2019, Journal of laparoendoscopic & advanced surgical techniques. Part A,
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
June 1996, Lancet (London, England),
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
June 1996, Lancet (London, England),
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
January 1993, Nordisk medicin,
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
April 2011, The Journal of trauma,
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
February 2024, Journal of maxillofacial and oral surgery,
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
June 2022, Pediatric emergency care,
Glenn Larsson, and Sanna Larsson, and Viktoria Strand, and Carl Magnusson, and Magnus Andersson Hagiwara
January 2022, Air medical journal,
Copied contents to your clipboard!