Kim Kt

Outcome of pediatric patients with severe brain injury in Korea : a comparison with reports in the West

Abstract There have been relatively wide variations in the results of studies examining the outcomes of severe brain injury in children. Among the reasons for these variations in outcome, prehospital care can be considered as one of the factors. In Korea, major hospitals use an aggressive and sophisticated management policy very similar to that practiced in the West. However, effective prehospital management, such as emergency care at the scene of injury and during transport by paramedics, have not yet been established. In order to evaluate the influence of prehospital care on the outcome in severely brain-injured children, we report the outcome recorded in 73 pediatric patients treated in our hospital following severe brain injury and compare these results with those reported from centers in the western community, where well-trained paramedic care and an excellent transfer system are in operation. The overall mortality rate in our patients was 23%; 41% had a good recovery, 22% moderate disability, and 12% severe disability, and 1% remained in a vegetative state. In conclusion, we would like to suggest that prehospital care does not remarkably influence mortality rates in severely brain-injured children.