Pediatric Patients in the Adult Trauma Bay—Comfort Level and Challenges

Most pediatric trauma patients are cared for in non-children's hospitals by providers without pediatric specialty training and in facilities that may not be used to caring for children. Children have different physiologic and psychologic responses to injury than adults. Children have different service and evaluative needs. Several studies have shown that pediatric trauma patients have improved outcomes with lower mortality, fewer operations, and improved function when cared for in pediatric facilities or adult trauma centers with pediatric expertise. Differences between injured adults and injured children need to be understood, recognized, and acted upon by care providers to optimize treatment for injured children. Limitations in the availability of pediatric specialists require that all hospitals be prepared to effectively and successfully treat pediatric trauma patients.