Pediatric trauma-associated acute respiratory distress syndrome: Incidence, risk factors, and outcomes

Analysis of 488,381 pediatric trauma cases reveals PT-ARDS occurs in 0.5% of patients with 18.6% mortality, predominantly within the first week post-injury. Key risk factors include nonaccidental trauma, near drowning, severe head/chest injury, and sepsis, with PT-ARDS independently associated with 33% increased mortality risk after adjustment for confounders.