Ambulance Runs for Pediatric Trauma in Tehran

Panahi, F.; Mousavi Naeeni, S.M.; Azizabadi Farahani, M.; Assari, Sh.

Ambulance Runs for Pediatric Trauma in Tehran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

F. Panahi ¹

S.M. Mousavi Naeeni ¹

M. Azizabadi Farahani ²

Sh. Assari ³

¹ Assistant Professor of General Surgery, Bagiatalah University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Bagiatalah Hospital, Tehran, Iran

² Researcher, Clinical Research Unit, Bagiatalah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran

³ Researcher, Clinical Research Unit, Bagiatalah University of Medical Sciences, Teharn, Iran

Abstract

Introduction & Objective: Trauma is one of the leading causes of children death after 1 year old.
Providing that, pre-hospital emergency care for children is still a health problem. Current study was conducted
with the aim of assessment of causes, and early outcomes of pediatric ambulance runs in Tehran.
Materials & Methods: Current study was a cross, sectional study. All ambulance runs for patients
under 16 years between 4 months during 2005 and 2006 was assessed for demographic data, cause of call and
very early outcomes.
Results: In 335 calls, the cause of EMS call was pediatrics trauma. From these, 211 (63%) was for males.
Mean (+ SD) age was 11.35 ± 3.65. Traffic accidents was the cause in 197 (58.5%), 9 subjects (5.1%) died
before ambulance arrival, but no one died in the way to the hospital. Mean response time was 14.75 ± 6.29.
Response time was significantly shorter in those who survived to hospital (18.4 ± 3.8 vs. 14.6 ± 6.6, p=0.05).
Conclusions: In Tehran, one from 3 of ambulance runs for pediatric patients is due to trauma. This
highlights the need for planning of health care providers in order to improve health care services in this field.
Although the time intervals for ambulance arrival are somewhat accepted in comparison to some countries,
but it is still far from the standards and recommended levels. According to this study shortening the response
time can improve prehospital survival.

Keywords

Trauma

Prehospital Emergency Medical Services

Pediatrics

Tehran