Affiliation:
1. Department of Surgery Te Waipapa Taumata Rau (University of Auckland) Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa New Zealand
2. Dunedin School of Medicine Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka (University of Otago) Dunedin, Aotearoa New Zealand
3. Department of Surgery Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
Abstract
AbstractBackgroundThe Ninth Perioperative Mortality Review Committee (POMRC) report found the likelihood of death was over three times higher in Māori youth compared to non‐Māori (age: 15–18 years) in the 30‐days following major trauma. The aim of our study is to investigate variations in care provided to Māori youth presenting to Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau (TWO‐CM) with major trauma, to inform policies and improve care.MethodsThis was a retrospective, observational study of 15–18‐year‐olds admitted to Middlemore Hospital from January 2018 to December 2021 following major trauma (Injury Severity Score (ISS) >12 or with (ISS) <12 who died). Data were obtained from the New Zealand Trauma Registry (NZTR). Six key performance indicators were studied against hospital guidelines/international consensus: Deaths, Cause‐of‐death, trauma call, RedBlanket activations, time‐to‐computed tomography (CT), and time‐to‐operating theatre (OT).ResultsOf 77 patients, five deaths occurred, four non‐Māori, and one Māori (P = 0.645). Five trauma calls were not activated (P = 0.642). There was no statistically significant difference for both median time to CT (P = 0.917) and time to CT for patients with GCS >13 (P = 0.778) between Māori and non‐Māori. Five patients did not meet guidelines for time‐to‐OT (three non‐Māori and two Māori) (P = 0.377).ConclusionNo statistically significant variations in care were present for Māori youth presenting with major trauma, these findings did not match the national trend.