Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube placement via the introducer technique is safe and effective in children when compared to the laparoscopic technique.

PURPOSE: We compare our experience of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy, introducer technique (PEG) and laparoscopic technique (LapGT) at a tertiary care pediatric hospital. METHODS: Isolated PEGs and LapGTs placements were reviewed at our institution from August 2016 through January 2018. Demographics, procedure time, operative charges, and 30-day complications were reviewed. Means of quantitative values were compared using the student's t test. Categorical values were compared using the X2 test. RESULTS: Ninety-three isolated gastrostomy tubes were placed in children aged 2 weeks to 19 years. There were 56 PEGs (60%) and 37 LapGTs (40%), based on surgeon preference. There was no significant difference in demographics between the two groups. Mean operative time for PEG was 59% shorter (14 vs. 33 min, p < 0.001). Operating room charges averaged $4500 less in the PEG group ($11,400 vs. $15,900, p < 0.001). Neither group had complications that required a return to the operating room within 30 days postoperatively. There was no difference in the rate of fundoplication after gastrostomy tube placement. In two cases PEGs were converted to LapGTs after safety criteria for PEG were not met. CONCLUSION: The PEG introducer technique, when used with clearly defined safety criteria, decreased operative time and cost without compromising safety. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: III.

Prenatal Recognition of Hepatopulmonary Fusion in Right-Sided Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia for Successful Operative Planning.

INTRODUCTION: Hepatopulmonary fusion (HPF) is a rare anomaly specifically associated with right-sided congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH). Fewer than 50 cases of HPF have been reported, most at the time of surgery or postmortem with an associated high morbidity and mortality rate. Prenatal diagnosis and optimal management of these rare cases have not been established. CASE PRESENTATION: We present a case of HPF diagnosed prenatally by fetal ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging allowing postnatal and intraoperative planning leading to successful HPF separation and repair of the CDH. DISCUSSION: The prenatal recognition allowed the use of preoperative computed tomography angiogram and right cardiac catheterization to plan the surgical approach. Intraoperative ultrasound confirmed abnormal vasculature associated with the HPF facilitating a successful complete HPF separation and CDH repair was performed. The patient survived and continues to do well on long-term follow-up. Prenatal recognition may help reduce the high morbidity and mortality associated with HPF.

Conn syndrome and Crohn disease in a pediatric case: an interesting parallel.

Conn syndrome is characterized by surreptitious secretion of aldosterone in which patients are found to have hypertension, hypokalemia, and metabolic alkalosis. Although rare, the most common presentation in the pediatric population is bilateral hyperplasia of the adrenal glands as opposed to an adenoma. Crohn disease is part of the spectrum of inflammatory bowel disease, which manifests in children as flare-ups of bloody diarrhea and abdominal pain. The association of concurrent Conn syndrome and Crohn disease has been previously presented in two cases in adults. This is the first pediatric case to be reported in the literature.

The need for blood transfusion therapy is associated with increased mortality in children with traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE: Blood transfusion therapy (BTT) is widely used in trauma patients. However, the adverse effects of BTT in pediatric trauma patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) were poorly studied. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of BTT on mortality in children with severe TBI. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort analysis, we analyzed 2012 and 2016 Kids' Inpatient Databases and used a weighted sample to obtain national outcome estimates. We included children aged 1 month to 21 years with TBI who were mechanically ventilated, considered severe TBI; we then compared the demographics, comorbidities, and mortality rates of those patients who had undergone BTT to those who did not. Statistical analysis was performed using the chi-squared test and regression models. In addition, in a correlative propensity score matched analysis, cases (BTT) were matched 1:1 with controls (non-BTT) based on age, gender, hospital region, income quartiles, race, and All Patients Refined Diagnosis Related Groups (APRDRG) severity of illness scores to minimize the effect of confounding variables between the groups. RESULTS: Out of 87,980 children with a diagnosis of TBI, 17,199 (19.5%) with severe TBI were included in the analysis. BTT was documented in 3184 (18.5%) children. Among BTT group, the mortality was higher compared to non-BTT group [31.6% (29.7-33.5%) vs. 14.4 (13.7-15.1%), (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.9-2.6; p<0.05)]. In the BTT group, infants and adolescents, white race, APRDRG severity of illness, cardiac arrest, platelet, and coagulation factor transfusions were associated with higher mortality. In a propensity-matched analysis, BTT associated with a higher risk of mortality (32.1% [30.1-34.2] vs. 17.4% [15.8-19.1], p<0.05; OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.9-2.6). CONCLUSION: In children with severe TBI, blood transfusion therapy is associated with higher mortality.

The safe introduction of robotic surgery in a free-standing children's hospital.

The aim of this study is to report the experience of implementing a pediatric robotic surgery program at a free-standing pediatric teaching hospital. A database was created to prospectively collect perioperative data for all robotic surgeries performed by the pediatric surgery department. The database was queried for all operations completed from October 2015 to December 2021. Descriptive statistics were used to characterize the dataset, using median and interquartile ranges for continuous variables. From October 2015 to December 2021, a total of 249 robotic surgeries were performed in the department of pediatric surgery. Of the 249 cases, 170 (68.3%) were female and 79 (31.7%) were male. Across all patients, there was a median weight (IQR) of 62.65 kg (48.2-76.68 kg) and a median (IQR) age of 16 years (13-18 years). The median (IQR) operative time was 104 min (79.0-138 min). The median console time was 54.0 min (33.0-76.0 min) and the median docking time was 7 min (5-11 min). The majority of procedures were performed on the biliary tree (52.6%). In the 249 procedures, there were no technical failures of the robot and only two operations (0.8%) were converted to open procedures and one (0.4%) to laparoscopic. This study highlights the ability to successfully integrate a pediatric robotic surgery program into a free-standing children's hospital with a low conversion rate. Additionally, the program extended across multiple surgical procedures and offered real-time exposure to advanced surgical techniques for current and aspiring pediatric surgery trainees.

Pediatric Single-Incision Robotic Cholecystectomy: A 6-Year Update from a Single Institution.

Introduction: In children, gallbladder disease has become more common due to the rise in childhood obesity and subsequent shift in etiology. While the gold standard of surgical management remains a laparoscopic technique, there has been increasing interest in robotic-assisted techniques. The aim of this study is to report a 6-year update on the experience of treating gallbladder disease with robotic-assisted surgery at a single institution. Materials and Methods: A database was created to prospectively collect patient demographic and operative variables at the time of operation from October 2015 to May 2021. Descriptive analysis of select available variables was performed using median and interquartile ranges (IQRs) for all continuous variables. Results: In total, 102 single-incision robotic cholecystectomies and one single-port subtotal cholecystectomy were performed. From available data, 82 (79.6%) patients were female, median weight was 66.25 kg (IQR: 58.09-74.24 kg), and median age was 15 years (IQR: 15-18 years). Median procedure time was 84 minutes (IQR: 70.25-103.5 minutes) and median console time was 41 minutes (IQR: 30-59.5 minutes). The most frequent preoperative diagnosis was symptomatic cholelithiasis (79.6%). One (0.97%) operation was converted from a single-incision robotic approach to open. Conclusion: Single-incision robotic cholecystectomy is a safe and reliable technique for the treatment of gallbladder disease in the adolescent population.

Recognition and management of traumatic fetal injuries.

Trauma during pregnancy is the leading non-obstetric cause of morbidity and mortality, and accounts for five per 1000 fetal deaths. Direct fetal injury due to trauma during pregnancy is rare, and limited information is available about how to optimize fetal outcomes after injury. Early recognition and appropriate management of direct fetal trauma may improve outcomes for the fetus. There are currently no available guidelines to direct management of the injured fetus. We provide a detailed literature review of the management and outcomes of direct fetal injury following blunt and penetrating injury during pregnancy, and describe a suggested initial approach to the injured pregnant patient with a focus on evaluation for fetal injury. We identified 45 reported cases of blunt trauma resulting in direct fetal injury, with 21 surviving past the neonatal period, and 33 of penetrating trauma resulting in direct fetal injury, with 24 surviving past the neonatal period. Prenatal imaging identified fetal injury in 19 cases of blunt trauma and was used to identify bullet location relative to the fetus in 6 cases. These reports were used to develop management algorithms for the injured fetus.

Outcomes after severe head injury: a National Trauma Data Bank-based comparison of Level I and Level II trauma centers.

Severely head-injured patients require significant resources across the continuum of care. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of the level of trauma center designation on the outcome of the severely head-injured patient. The National Trauma Data Bank between 2001 and 2006 (NTDB 6.2) was queried for all patients with isolated traumatic head injury and Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) less than 9. Comparisons between Level I and Level II trauma centers were made reviewing hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit LOS, ventilator days, major complication rate (pulmonary embolism, pneumonia, lower extremity deep vein thrombosis), mortality, and discharge status. Chi-square and Student t tests were used to determine statistical significance defined as P < 0.05. There were 31,736 patients from 258 facilities who met the inclusion criteria during the study period. Level I trauma centers had approximately twice as many patients admissions as Level II centers. However, the severity of injuries and patients' characteristics identified by the emergency department GCS as well as the probability of survival score showed no difference between Level I and Level II centers. The comparisons between Level I and Level II trauma centers shows that Level II centers are not inferior to Level I in terms of outcomes and complication rate. Level II trauma centers encounter patients with isolated complex head injury less often but with outcomes and complication rates comparable to that of Level I centers. The transport of head-injured patients should not bypass Level II in favor of Level I.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair complicated by infection with Clostridium septicum.

Aortic stent-graft infection after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair is an uncommon, but very serious complication with potentially devastating consequences.(1) Traditional open techniques of repair of AAA demonstrate an infection rate of 0.5-3%. The exact rate of infection with endovascular repair is unknown, but literature review demonstrates an overall incidence of 0.43-1.17% retrospectively.(2,3) Etiology of endovascular graft infections typically results from flora derived from the skin or gastrointestinal tract.(4)Clostridium septicum is a naturally occurring anaerobic bacterium native to the gastrointestinal tract. It is typically associated with spontaneous nontraumatic gas gangrene owing to bacteremia from the gastrointestinal tract with an incidence rate of 0.07%.(5) To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of endovascular AAA graft infection owing to Clostridium septicum species.

Initial Experience with Robotic Inguinal Hernia Repair in the Adolescent Population.

Purpose: There is no one standard procedure encompassing the needs and differences of the entire pediatric population for inguinal hernia repair (IHR). Several techniques can be used, including open repair, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted laparoscopic repair. This is a report of a single pediatric hospital's experience performing robotic-assisted IHRs in an adolescent population. Methods: Robotic IHRs performed by the pediatric surgery department were prospectively captured and reviewed. The operation performed was a modified robotic transabdominal preperitoneal approach with ProGrip mesh. Results: Between January 2016 and August 2020, 11 robotic-assisted IHRs occurred. All patients were male, median weight interquartile range (IQR) was 76.6 kg (67.425-90.4 kg) and median age (IQR) was 17 years (17-18.5). All together median (IQR) total operative time was 111 (97.5-126) minutes, median (IQR) total console time was 60 (55.5-75.5) minutes. There were no complications or conversions, with all patients discharged on the day of the operation. Conclusion: This study demonstrates a safe and reliable approach to repairing inguinal hernias using robotics through a small initial case series. Robotic-assisted IHR should be considered a viable technique to optimize the surgical care of adolescents.

'Normal' vital signs belie occult hypoperfusion in geriatric trauma patients.

Base deficit (BD) and lactic acid (LA) are accepted markers of hypoperfusion and predictors of outcome in the trauma patient and we aim to assess the value of these markers in the triage of the elderly with "normal" vital signs. Patients older than age 65 who presented between 1997 and 2004 but who did not have isolated head injuries were included. Three patient groups were established: normal, occult hypoperfusion (OH), and shock. Outcome measures included mortality, hospital length of stay, intensive care unit length of stay, and discharge disposition. One hundred six patients were included in the analysis and had similar Injury Severity Scores. Mean systolic blood pressure was similar in the normal and OH groups. Forty-two per cent of patients had abnormal BD or LA in the emergency room indicating OH. These patients were more likely to have a longer intensive care unit length of stay (8.6 days vs. 3 days; P = 0.01) and were also more likely to be discharged to a nursing facility (P = 0.03). The trend was toward increased mortality in the OH group. OH is a common finding in elderly trauma patients. Outcomes in these patients are different and more like those presenting in shock.

Robotic Approach for Median Arcuate Ligament Release in Pediatrics.

Background: Median arcuate ligament (MAL) syndrome is a rare cause of chronic abdominal pain in adults and children. Release of the MAL has traditionally been performed open or laparoscopically. There have not been any published cases to our knowledge of robotic-assisted MAL release in pediatric patients. Patients and Methods: Two adolescent patients, aged 12 and 15 years, at our institution underwent robotic-assisted MAL release. The procedure involved dissecting the MAL muscle fibers and overlying scar tissue. Patients stayed inpatient postoperatively overnight and with an average outpatient follow-up of 10 months. Results: Both patients had immediate pain relief postoperatively and at 10-month follow-up had no recurrent symptoms. No complications were associated with the procedure. Conclusion: The increasing role of robotic surgery as a new surgical technique is gaining momentum for many procedures. This new approach for MAL release in the pediatric population was explored by our institution. It was found to be successful, safe, and reproducible for future patients.

Do Racial/Ethnic and Economic Factors Affect the Rate of Complicated Appendicitis in Children?

INTRODUCTION: Appendicitis continues to be one of the most common surgical conditions in the pediatric population. We set out to determine demographic and practice variations among children admitted with appendicitis and highlight the racial/ethnic and healthcare access role in relation to the rate of complicated appendicitis using the 2012 Kids' Inpatient Database (KID). Methodology. A retrospective cross-sectional database study was performed using the 2012 KID. All children (age 1 months to 20 years) with appendicitis were identified using the ICD-9 diagnosis codes. Children with a diagnosis of appendicitis were compared with all other discharges. Among children with appendicitis, demographic and practice variations and the rate of complicated appendicitis were evaluated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were done to analyze the data. Sample weighing was done to present national estimates. RESULTS: In 2012, a total of 89, 935 out of 2.7 million pediatric hospital discharges (3.3%) had a diagnosis of appendicitis. The incidence of appendicitis was higher in males (4.7%), 6-15-year age group (7.43%), Hispanics (5.2%), and in the Western region (5.2%) and was lower in infants (0.02%) and African American children (1.2%) (p < 0.0001). The proportion of children with peritonitis or abscess was higher in children's hospitals (48.2% vs. 29.0%; OR 2.3, 95% CI: 2.2-2.4). The risk of complicated appendicitis was inversely related to age, while racial and ethnic minority status, bottom quartile of the income group, and government insurance increased the risk. Laparoscopic appendectomy was performed more frequently at children's hospitals (84.8% vs. 74.3%; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Appendicitis is more common in Hispanics, males, older children, and in the Western region. Complicated appendicitis is more common in younger children, minority groups, low-income group, and children with government insurance. Children's hospitals manage more children with complicated appendicitis and are more likely to perform laparoscopic appendectomy.

Early postoperative hemorrhage after open and laparoscopic roux-en-y gastric bypass.

BACKGROUND: Early postoperative hemorrhage is an infrequent complication of both laparoscopic and open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP). The objective of our study is to review the incidence and management of this complication and identify contributing clinical and technical risk factors. METHODS: Over a 3-year period, 1,025 patients underwent RYGBP at our institution. The medical records of patients who required postoperative blood transfusions were reviewed for clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation and management. These patients were matched for surgical approach (open vs. laparoscopic) in a 1:3 ratio and compared to a random group of patients who underwent RYGBP during the same time period. RESULTS: Thirty-three patients (3.2%) were diagnosed with postoperative hemorrhage, 17 (51.5%) of which were intraluminal. The incidence of hemorrhage was higher in the laparoscopic group (5.1% vs. 2.4%, p = 0.02). Comparing bleeders to nonbleeders, the average BMI, gender distribution, gastro-jejunostomy anastomotic technique (stapled vs. hand sewn) and the postoperative administration of ketorolac were not significantly different. The bleeding group was older (47.5 vs. 42.8, p = 0.02), had a longer hospital stay (4.9 vs. 3 days, p = 0.0001) and was more likely to have received low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) preoperatively (p = 0.03). Hemorrhage occurred earlier (13.8 vs. 25.9 h, p = 0.039) and was more severe (4.1 vs. 2.3 transfused blood units, p = 0.007) in the patients who required surgical reexploration (n = 9). CONCLUSIONS: A laparoscopic approach and the preoperative administration of LMWH may increase the incidence of early hemorrhage after RYGBP. This complication frequently requires surgical reexploration and significantly prolongs the hospital stay.

Robotic duodeno-duodenostomy creation in a pediatric patient with idiopathic duodenal stricture.

Duodenal stenosis is one of the leading causes of duodenal obstruction in the pediatric population, usually diagnosed in newborns and in Down syndrome patients. It has historically been treated with duodeno-duodenostomy, an operation that is now commonly performed laparoscopically. We present a case of a 10-year-old child with a rare chromosomal abnormality who was diagnosed with a duodenal stricture after presenting with failure to thrive and inability to tolerate tube feeds. Duodeno-duodenostomy was performed using the da Vinci® robot, allowing for improved intra-operative range of motion and control during anastomosis creation, with the same cosmetic benefits of laparoscopic surgery, and subsequent improvement in symptoms postoperatively. This case highlights the utility of robotic surgery in complex operations in the pediatric population.

Single-Port Robotic Cholecystectomy in Pediatric Patients: Single Institution Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Modifications to conventional laparoscopic cholecystectomy are aimed to decrease abdominal pain and improve cosmetic results. Single-port robotic cholecystectomy is a safe and feasible approach that has been reported in adults, though reports are limited in children. This study aims to report our experience with single-port robotic cholecystectomy in children, and to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and outcomes of this approach. METHODS: After single-port robotic approach was available at our institution, we prospectively followed our patients who underwent a single-port robotic cholecystectomy from March 2013 to May 2015 in our children's hospital. RESULTS: There were 14 patients [female 11 (79%) versus male 3 (21%)], the average age was 12.20 ± 4.97 years, with a mean body mass index of 28.01 ± 8.57 m/kg2. Of the 14 patients, 4 (29%) had cholelithiasis with choledocolithiasis and had undergone an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography before the operation, 6 (43%) had symptomatic cholelithiasis, and 4 (28%) had acute cholecystitis. The median operative room time was 125 minutes (range 60-202), the median time of operation was 77.5 minutes (range 64-169), the median estimated blood loss was 2 mL (range 2-25), and a median length of stay was 1 day (range 0-2). There were no conversions to another approach. The median follow-up was 7 months (range 3-22). One patient (7%) developed an umbilical port site seroma, which was managed conservatively, no other complications occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Single-port robotic cholecystectomy is a feasible and safe approach for cholecystectomy in the pediatric population. More studies are required to compare it to different approaches.

Clinical pulmonary embolus after gastric bypass surgery.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolus (PE) is one of the most common causes of death for patients undergoing gastric bypass surgery. The risk of developing PE has been associated with increased age, greater body mass index (BMI), and chronic venous stasis disease. METHODS: Between 1998 and 2003, 1225 patients underwent open Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGBP) surgery (258 men and 967 women) for the treatment of morbid obesity and its related disorders. The medical records for morbidly obese patients diagnosed with PE after RYGBP were identified. The presenting signs and symptoms were reviewed, and the known risk factors were analyzed. We compared the age and BMI of these patients with those of a randomly selected RYGBP control group. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze the statistical significance of the results. RESULTS: During the study period, 11 patients were diagnosed with PE (0.9%). Six patients were men and five were women, for a gender-specific incidence of PE of 2.3% in men and 0.5% in women. The average BMI was 62.5 kg/m(2) in the men and 59.1 kg/m(2) in the women, much greater than in the control group (men 53 kg/m(2) and women 52 kg/m(2); P <0.005 and P <0.05, respectively). All male patients were super-obese (BMI >50 kg/m(2)). The total number of super-obese patients undergoing RYGBP during the study period was 147, for an incidence of PE in super-obese men of 4%. Nine of the 11 patients developed PE after discharge from the hospital within an average of 10 days. CONCLUSION: The super-obese male patient is at a much greater risk of developing PE than other RYGBP patients (relative risk 4.4). The risk extends to several weeks after discharge. Therefore, extending PE prophylaxis to several weeks after surgery may be warranted.

Thyroid hormone positively regulates the enterocyte differentiation marker intestinal alkaline phosphatase gene via an atypical response element.

Thyroid hormone (T3) is a critical regulator of intestinal epithelial development and homeostasis, but its mechanism of action within the gut is not well understood. We have examined the molecular mechanisms underlying the T3 activation of the enterocyte differentiation marker intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) gene. RT-PCR and Western blotting showed that thyroid hormone receptors TRalpha1 and TRbeta1 were expressed in human colorectal adenocarcinoma Caco-2 cells. Northern blotting detected expression of two IAP transcripts, which were increased approximately 3-fold in response to T3. Transient transfection studies with luciferase reporter plasmids carrying various internal and 5' deletion mutations of the IAP promoter localized a putative thyroid hormone response element (TRE) to a region approximately 620 nucleotides upstream (-620) of the ATG start codon. EMSAs using TRalpha1-retinoid X receptor alpha (RXRalpha) on sequential 5' and 3' single nucleotide deletions defined the TRE between -632 and -612 (5'-TTGAACTCAgccTGAGGTTAC-3'). Compared with the consensus TRE, the IAP-TRE is novel in that it contains an everted repeat of two nonamers (not hexamers) separated by three nucleotides. Neither TRalpha1 nor RXRalpha binds to the IAP-TRE; however, TRbeta1 binds to this TRE with minimal affinity. In the presence of TR and RXRalpha, only the TR-RXRalpha heterodimer binds to the IAP-TRE. Mutagenesis of either nonamer abolishes the biological activity of IAP promoter. We have thus identified a novel response element that appears to mediate the T3-induced activation of the enterocyte differentiation marker, intestinal alkaline phosphatase.

Acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) in the pediatric population associated with Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infection. Case report and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous herpes virus that persists lifelong in normal humans by colonizing memory B cells. Infection during childhood is usually asymptomatic. Isolated gallbladder wall thickening or hydrops have been reported in patients with EBV infectious mononucleosis. However, acute acalculous cholecystitis is an atypical clinical presentation of primary EBV infection. We present a teenager with acute cholecystitis associated with EBV acute infection. Acute acalculous cholecystitis accounts for 2-15% of all cases of acute cholecystitis. Few cases of acute cholecystitis have been reported during the course of primary EBV infection. PRESENTATION OF CASE: A 15-year-old female who came to the JDCH ER complaining of 3 days history of mild diffuse abdominal pain associated with two episodes of emesis. She also reports headache as well as a mild cough and low grade subjective fever. Blood test results showed mild leukocytosis with significant elevation in the lymphocytes (59%), High alkaline phosphatase (221 U/I), AST (191 U/I), ALT(221 U/I) and bilirubin (Total 1.8 and direct 1.5). Abdominal US showed a contracted gallbladder with wall thickness and pericholecystic fluid. During hospital stay number 2-3 laboratory work up show a trending up in the bilirubin levels. MRCP was ordered and no abdnormalities were found. At this point Hospital stay number 3 EBV acute infection was suspected. Serum serological studies were subsequently diagnostic for this viral disease. Management was conservative and the patient was discharged asymptomatic on hospital day number six.

Intracranial Pressure Monitoring in Children With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: National Trauma Data Bank-Based Review of Outcomes.

IMPORTANCE: The present study is the largest on the use and effect of intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring in pediatric trauma patients. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of ICP monitoring on survival in pediatric patients with severe head injuries using the National Trauma Data Bank. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: The National Trauma Data Bank was queried (version 6.2, 2001-2006) for information on patients younger than 17 years admitted to an intensive care unit with blunt traumatic brain injury (TBI), Injury Severity Score (ISS) greater than 9, and Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score less than 9. Patients with incomplete medical records and those with intensive care unit length of stay of less than 24 hours were excluded from the study. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Parametric comparisons (t tests and χ2 as appropriate) were performed to compare patients who received ICP monitoring with those who did not. Stepwise logistic regression methods were used to assess whether ICP monitoring in the presence of other variables (age, sex, ISS, Revised Trauma Score, and GCS score) was associated with survival. RESULTS: Monitoring of ICP was performed in only 7.7% of patients who met the monitoring criteria recommended by the Brain Trauma Foundation. There were no significant differences in age, sex, or GCS score. After adjustment for admission GCS score, age group, sex, Revised Trauma Score, and injury ISS, ICP monitoring was associated with a reduction in mortality only for patients with a GCS score of 3 (odds ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-1.00). Comparison between the 2 groups showed that the ICP monitoring group had a longer hospital length of stay (21.0 days vs 10.4 days; P < .001), longer intensive care unit stay (12.6 vs 6.3 days; P < .001), and more ventilator days (9.2 vs 4.7; P < .001). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: Despite current Brain Trauma Foundation guidelines, ICP monitoring is used infrequently in the pediatric population. The data suggest that there is a small, yet statistically significant, survival advantage in patients who have ICP monitors and a GCS score of 3. However, all patients with ICP monitors experienced longer hospital length of stay, longer intensive care unit stay, and more ventilator days compared with those without ICP monitors. A prospective observational study would be helpful to accurately define the population for whom ICP monitoring is advantageous.