Severe head injury in children: geographical range of an emergency neurosurgical practice.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the timings of regional transfer for emergency neurosurgery and intensive care after severe head injury in children, and the effective operational range of a regional service.


METHODS
Prospective observational study of admissions to a regional paediatric intensive care unit (PICU).


METHODS
East Anglia region in England, January 2000 to December 2001, where 18 referring hospitals are within two hours road transit time from the centre.


METHODS
69 severely head injured children (52 boys and 17 girls, aged 8.4 (3.6 to 12.5) years).


METHODS
Time interval between injury and arrival at first hospital (primary transfer); timing between arrival at first hospital and arrival in PICU or the operating theatre (secondary transfer).


RESULTS
Arrival in one of the 19 accident and emergency departments occurred (median, IQR) within 48 (35 to 70) minutes of the accident. After arrival, the interval of secondary transfer was 4.4 (3.2 to 5.8) hours. Children rarely received their surgery within four hours of injury; for this to occur, the geographical range of this regional practice would need to be restricted to those hospitals within about 45 minute road transit time from the centre.


CONCLUSIONS
Good evidence supporting the recommendation that acute neurosurgery for the evacuation of a haematoma within four hours of injury is still scarce. The timings of care after an accident suggest that this guideline is unworkable in regions covering areas with road distance travel times in excess of 45 minutes.
Tasker
R C
RC
Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 2QQ, UK. rct31@cam.ac.uk
Gupta
S
S
White
D K
DK
D002391:Catchment Area, Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000601:surgery*; D004630:Emergencies; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric; D008297:Male; D010360:Patient Transfer / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014193:Trauma Centers