title: Outcomes of an accelerated care pathway for pediatric blunt solid organ injuries in a public healthcare system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  An accelerated clinical care pathway for solid organ abdominal injuries was implemented at a level one pediatric trauma center. The impact on resource utilization and demonstration of protocol safety was assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected retrospectively on patients admitted with blunt abdominal solid organ injuries from 2012 to 2015. Patients were subdivided into pre- and post-protocol groups. Length of hospital stay (LOS) and failure of non-operative treatment were the primary outcomes of interest.
  
  
  RESULTS
  138 patients with solid organ injury were studied: 73 pre- (2012-2014) and 65 post-protocol (2014-2015). There were no significant differences in age, gender, injury severity score (ISS), injury grade, or mechanism (p>0.05). LOS was shorter post-protocol (mean 5.6 vs. 3.4days; median 5 .0 vs. 3.0days; p=0.0002), resulting in average savings of $5966 per patient. Patients in the protocol group mobilized faster (p<0.0001) and experienced fewer blood draws (p=0.02). On multivariate analysis, protocol group (p<0.001) and ISS (p<0.001) were independently associated with LOS. There were no differences between groups in the need for operation, embolization, or transfusion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An accelerated care pathway is safe and effective in the management of pediatric solid organ injuries with early mobilization, less blood draws, and decreased LOS without significant morbidity and mortality.
  
  
  METHODS
  Therapeutic, cost effectiveness, level III.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Oluwatomilayo
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Daodu
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Surgery, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brindle
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Surgery, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Carlos R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Alvarez-Allende
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Surgery, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Lisette
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lockyer
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Surgery, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Bryce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.affiliation: Section of Pediatric Surgery, Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, Alberta, Canada; Department of Surgery, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Electronic address: Steven.Lopushinsky@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Steven R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Lopushinsky
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000416:Alberta; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019091:Critical Pathways / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014193:Trauma Centers; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: Kidney injury; Liver injury; Management; Pediatric; Spleen injury