Cardiac Evaluation of Children Presenting with Trauma

Abstract

Background: Trauma is a critical public health issue, particularly impacting the young and caus-ing significant financial and moral losses. Approximately one-third of trauma-related hospitaliza-tions and 20-25% of trauma-related deaths are caused by serious chest injuries. We aimed to determine the prognostic value of changing pediatric global troponin levels in the emergency department after trauma. Materials and Methods: Patients who applied to the emergency department with complaints of trauma between January 1, 2015 and January 31, 2022 were evaluated. Records of pediatric patients between the ages of 0 and 18 were reviewed. The cause and severity of the trauma, electrocardiography and echocardiography results, and laboratory data (biochemical, hemogram, C-reactive protein, pro-BNP, CK-MB, troponin, etc.) of the patients were evaluated. This study is an observational and retrospective. Results: Falling from height was the most prevalent cause of injury, accounting for 43% of cases. Chest trauma was observed in 55 patients (56%). All patients with chest trauma exhibited ele-vated troponin levels. Troponin levels were found to be significantly higher in patients with chest trauma (p=0.011). Conclusions: Our findings highlighted the prognostic importance of cardiac troponins, especially in pediatric patients presenting with trauma.