@article{ref1,
title="Predictors of mortality in pediatric urban firearm injuries",
journal="Pediatric surgery international",
year="2017",
author="Feldman, Kelly A. and Tashiro, Jun and Allen, Casey J. and Perez, Eduardo A. and Neville, Holly L. and Schulman, Carl I. and Sola, Juan E.",
volume="33",
number="1",
pages="53-58",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Although firearms account for less than 5 % of all pediatric injuries, they have the highest associated case fatality rate. <br><br>METHODS: The registry at a Level-1 trauma center was used to identify firearm injuries (<18 years of age) from 1991 to 2011. Descriptive statistics and risk-adjusted multivariate analyses (MVA) were performed. <br><br>RESULTS: Overall, 1085 patients were identified. Immediate operations were performed in 33 % (n = 358) of patients with most having abdominal surgery (n = 214). Survival was 86 %, but higher for African Americans (OR = 1.92) than for Hispanics (p = 0.006). African Americans were more likely to sustain extremity (OR = 2.26) and less head (OR = 0.36) injuries than Hispanics (p < 0.001). Analysis by injury location showed that head (OR = 14.1) had the highest associated mortality. Other significant predictors included multiple major injury (defined by Abbreviated Injury Scale) with central nervous system involvement (OR = 7.30) and single injuries to the chest (OR = 2.68). These findings were compared to abdominal injuries as the baseline (p < 0.02). MVA demonstrated that Caucasian children had higher mortality (OR = 6.12) vs. Hispanics (p = 0.031). Children admitted with initial pH ≤ 7.15 (OR = 14.8), initial hematocrit ≤30 (OR = 3.24), or Injury Severity Score (ISS) > 15 (OR = 1.08) had higher mortality rates (p < 0.05). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Independent significant indicators of mortality include low initial pH or hematocrit, Caucasian race, high ISS, and those who sustain head injuries.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0179-0358",
doi="10.1007/s00383-016-3984-0",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00383-016-3984-0"
}