Methodology: 3/5
Usefulness: 3/5

Holmes JF, et al. Lancet Child Adolesc Health. 2024 May;8(5):339-347. 

Question and Methods: This prospective multicenter cohort study sought to validate the PECARN intra-abdominal injury and traumatic brain injury rules in order to help reduce the inappropriate use of CTs in the emergency department.
Findings: The validation cohort demonstrated a sensitivity of 100% for the intra-abdominal injury rule, a sensitivity of 100% for the traumatic brain injury rule for children younger than 2 years, and a sensitivity of 98.8% for the traumatic brain injury rule for children aged 2 years and older.
Limitations: Limitations included the lack of blinding and the absence of information on the number of patient’s lost to follow up.

Interpretation: The PECARN CT traumatic brain injury and intra-abdominal injury rules were effectively validated and can be used to guide decisions about which pediatric patients do not require a CT in the emergency department.

By: Dr. Gabrielle Hibbert

JC: Dr. Vaillancourt

For more JC Summaries please click HERE

 


 

Authors

  • Gabrielle Hibbert
  • Dr. Hans Rosenberg

    Dr. Rosenberg is an emergency physician at the Ottawa Hospital, associate professor at the University of Ottawa, and Director of the Digital Scholarship and Knowledge Dissemination Program.

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  • Christian Vaillancourt

    Senior Scientist, Clinical Epidemiology Program Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Full Professor, Emergency Medicine University of Ottawa Research Chair in Emergency Cardiac Resuscitation, Emergency Medicine University of Ottawa Associate Medical Director, Regional Paramedic Program for Eastern Ontario Research Interests: Dr. Vaillancourt's current research program focuses on pre-hospital care, specifically improving care and survival for cardiac arrest and trauma victims.

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