Comparison of Base Deficit and Vital Signs as Criteria for Hemorrhagic Shock Classification in Children with Trauma.

PURPOSE

Base deficit (BD) is superior to vital signs in predicting trauma outcomes in adults. The authors aimed to compare BD and vital signs as criteria for the four-tiered hemorrhagic shock classification in children with trauma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the data of 1046 injured children who visited a Korean academic hospital from 2010 through 2018. These children were classified separately based on BD (class I, BD ≤2.0 mmol/L; II, 2.1-6.0 mmol/L; III, 6.1-10 mmol/L; and IV, ≥10.1 mmol/L) and vital signs (<13 years: age-adjusted hypotension and tachycardia, and Glasgow Coma Scale; 13-17 years: the 2012 Advanced Trauma Life Support classification). The two methods were compared on a class-by-class basis regarding the outcomes: mortality, early transfusion (overall and massive), and early surgical interventions for the torso or major vessels.

RESULTS

In total, 603 children were enrolled, of whom 6.6% died. With the worsening of BD and vital signs, the outcome rates increased stepwise (most <0.001; only between surgical interventions and vital signs, =0.035). Mortality more commonly occurred in BD-based class IV than in vital signs-based class IV (58.8% vs. 32.7%, =0.008). Early transfusion was more commonly performed in BD-based class III than in vital signs-based class III (overall, 73.8% vs. 53.7%, =0.007; massive, 37.5% vs. 15.8%, =0.001). No significant differences were found in the rates of early surgical interventions between the two methods.

CONCLUSION

BD can be a better predictor of outcomes than vital signs in children with severe hemorrhagic shock.