BACKGROUND: Preliminary evidence suggests that a single prehospital lactate level (pLA) improves prediction of morbidity and mortality in adult trauma patients independent of vital signs. However, the value of pLA for pediatric trauma patients is unknown. Our objective was to determine whether pLA is associated with the need for critical care in pediatric trauma patients. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of 217 patients transported by helicopter to a level I pediatric trauma center over 24 months. The primary outcome was the need for predefined critical care measures. Covariates included vital signs and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores documented by prehospital providers. RESULTS: Forty-one subjects required critical care. Abnormal prehospital vital signs were not associated with need for critical care. Overall, median pLA level for patients who required critical care was 2.1 mmol/L (interquartile range [IQR], 1.6-2.7 mmol/L) versus 1.7 mmol/L (IQR, 1.2-2.2 mmol/L) for those who did not (P = 0.01). In addition, there were 85 subjects who had normal vital signs and a normal GCS during transport. Of these, 11 (13%) required critical care. In the subset of patients with normal prehospital vital signs and GCS, median pLA level for patients who required critical care was 2.6 mmol/L (IQR, 1.8-2.6 mmol/L) versus 1.7 mmol/L (IQR, 1-2.1 mmol/L) for those who did not (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital lactate level was higher in pediatric trauma patients who required critical care, including those who had normal prehospital vital signs and GCS. In this cohort, lactate was an early identifier of children with severe traumatic injuries.
BACKGROUND: Preliminary evidence suggests that a single prehospital lactate level (pLA) improves prediction of morbidity and mortality in adult traumapatients independent of vital signs. However, the value of pLA for pediatric traumapatients is unknown. Our objective was to determine whether pLA is associated with the need for critical care in pediatric traumapatients. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study of 217 patients transported by helicopter to a level I pediatric trauma center over 24 months. The primary outcome was the need for predefined critical care measures. Covariates included vital signs and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores documented by prehospital providers. RESULTS: Forty-one subjects required critical care. Abnormal prehospital vital signs were not associated with need for critical care. Overall, median pLA level for patients who required critical care was 2.1 mmol/L (interquartile range [IQR], 1.6-2.7 mmol/L) versus 1.7 mmol/L (IQR, 1.2-2.2 mmol/L) for those who did not (P = 0.01). In addition, there were 85 subjects who had normal vital signs and a normal GCS during transport. Of these, 11 (13%) required critical care. In the subset of patients with normal prehospital vital signs and GCS, median pLA level for patients who required critical care was 2.6 mmol/L (IQR, 1.8-2.6 mmol/L) versus 1.7 mmol/L (IQR, 1-2.1 mmol/L) for those who did not (P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Prehospital lactate level was higher in pediatric traumapatients who required critical care, including those who had normal prehospital vital signs and GCS. In this cohort, lactate was an early identifier of children with severe traumatic injuries.
Authors: Adam Z Tobias; Francis X Guyette; Christopher W Seymour; Brian P Suffoletto; Christian Martin-Gill; Jorge Quintero; Jeffrey Kristan; Clifton W Callaway; Donald M Yealy Journal: Prehosp Emerg Care Date: 2014-02-18 Impact factor: 3.077
Authors: Alexander E St John; Andrew M McCoy; Allison G Moyes; Francis X Guyette; Eileen M Bulger; Michael R Sayre Journal: West J Emerg Med Date: 2018-02-12
Authors: Birte Weber; Ina Lackner; Christian Karl Braun; Miriam Kalbitz; Markus Huber-Lang; Jochen Pressmar Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2021-03-16 Impact factor: 3.418
Authors: Lori L Boland; Jonathan S Hokanson; Karl M Fernstrom; Tyler G Kinzy; Charles J Lick; Paul A Satterlee; Brian K LaCroix Journal: West J Emerg Med Date: 2016-07-21