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Comparison of helicopter and ground transportation in pediatric trauma patients

Pediatric Research volume 95, pages 188–192 (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Decision making regarding transportation mode after a traumatic injury may have a significant impact on outcomes, due to differences in time to definitive care. The objective of this study was to determine if transport mode had an impact on in-hospital mortality and discharge disposition in pediatric trauma patients.

Methods

Data were abstracted from the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007 to 2016 comparing helicopter and ground transportation modes effects on mortality and discharge outcomes. The primary outcome was in-hospital death, while the secondary outcome was discharge home without services (DCHWOS). Analyses included logistic regression modeling and propensity score matching.

Results

Significant variables from univariate analysis were included in the multivariate, propensity-matched regression model. Pediatric trauma patients transported by helicopter had lower odds of mortality (OR 0.69 [0.64,0.75]) and higher odds of DCHWOS (1.29 [1.20,1.39]). There were no differences in overall mechanism, but individual injury patterns showed higher odds of mortality.

Conclusion

Critical decisions regarding triage of patients by different modes of transport occur every day. This study supports the current literature on the topic and shows a potential additional benefit of a meaningful discharge outcome for those transported by helicopter.

Impact

  • This study may impact prehospital triage decision making process for pediatric trauma patients on mortality.

  • Prehospital transport mode may contribute to pediatric trauma discharge outcomes.

  • Highlights the need for future research regarding non-clinical data that is unable to be abstracted from national databases (e.g., family dynamics, insurance status, weather, access to post-discharge resources).

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2: Forest plot of propensity matched transport groups for death and DCHWOS.

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Data availability

Data was obtained from the National Trauma Data Bank which is publicly available data reported to the American College of Surgeons and access to all the data used in this manuscript can be available upon request through their website.

References

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the University of Texas Health Science Center, Department of Surgery, Division of Trauma and Critical Care and Division of Pediatrics for their support in this project

Disclosure

The authors of this manuscript have no relevant financial relations ships and have nothing to disclose with regards to this manuscript.

Funding

No sources of funding were utilized in the completion of this study.

Patient consent

Data was abstracted from the publicly available national trauma databank and did not require consent for this manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. UT Health Science Center San Antonio, Department of Surgery, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Angelo Ciaraglia, Derek Lumbard & Susannah Nicholson

  2. UT Health Science Center San Antonio, Department of Pediatrics, San Antonio, TX, USA

    Anish Murala & Alvaro Moreira

  3. Texas Children’s Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Houston, TX, USA

    Axel Moreira

  4. University of Pennsylvania, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Karthik Rajasekaran

Authors
  1. Angelo Ciaraglia
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  2. Derek Lumbard
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  6. Susannah Nicholson
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  7. Alvaro Moreira
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Contributions

A.V., D.L., S.N., and A.M. contributed to the writing, data collection, literature search, and data analysis of the manuscript. A.M., K.R. contributed to the critical revision of this manuscript and data collection of this study.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Angelo Ciaraglia.

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Ciaraglia, A., Lumbard, D., Murala, A. et al. Comparison of helicopter and ground transportation in pediatric trauma patients. Pediatr Res 95, 188–192 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-023-02761-5

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