Outcomes of an accelerated care pathway for pediatric blunt solid organ injuries in a public healthcare system
Topic overview
Retrospective study of 138 pediatric patients with blunt solid organ injuries demonstrates that an accelerated care pathway safely reduces hospital length of stay from 5.6 to 3.4 days, with earlier mobilization and fewer blood draws, generating $5,966 average savings per patient without increased morbidity.
Key takeaways
- Accelerated care pathway reduced hospital stay from 5.6 to 3.4 days (mean) for pediatric blunt solid organ injuries, saving ~$6000 per patient.
- Early mobilization and fewer blood draws were achieved without increasing need for operation, embolization, or transfusion.
- Protocol implementation was safe across all injury grades with no significant increase in morbidity or mortality.
- ISS and protocol adherence were independent predictors of length of stay on multivariate analysis.
- Non-operative management remains effective for pediatric solid organ trauma when combined with streamlined clinical pathways.
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