Children and Trauma

One of the most common causes of childhood injury and mortality is accidents, and unfortunately, we see these kids as frequent flyers to the operating room. The stories devastate me; when I hear about a previously healthy kid who gets hit by a car, has a fall, or gets into an accident, I feel awful about the situation. The most severe of these injuries may necessitate a prolonged stay in the intensive care unit, multiple orthopedic procedures, skin grafting for wounds, even a tracheostomy or gastric tube for breathing and feeding support. The patients and parents fight an uphill battle, trying to quell infections, maintain nutrition, control pain and emotional tumult, keep all the organs functioning. One particular kid, all the anesthesiologists and staff know because he's come to the operating room over and over again. We do our very best to take care of these children, but for these types of injuries, prevention is the best medicine.