PECARN

Validation of Decision Rules for CT Use in Children with Blunt Abdominal or Head Trauma

Project Summary:

The purpose of this study is to externally validate the PECARN IAI rule and the PECARN TBI decision rule and to raise the level of evidence to Level 2. This study also strives to meet the National Cancer Institute recommendations to minimize CT radiation in children which are to (1) perform only necessary CT examinations, (2) encourage development and adoption of pediatric CT protocols and to (3) encourage the use of selective strategies for pediatric imaging.

Population:

Children < 18 years presenting to the ED with blunt abdominal and/or non-trivial blunt head trauma

Outcomes:

To reduce the inappropriate use of CT scans in children who have very low risk of significant injury.

Enrollment:

2100 as of December 2019

Study Team:

Misha N. Granado, MPH, MS (Coordinator) | Modupe Onigbogi, PhDc | Emergency Medicine Research Assistants

More about PECARN

Funding and Collaborators:

Memorial Hermann - Texas Medical Center LogoNIH LogoUC Davis Health LogoPECARN LogoEMSC Logo (Emergency Medical Services for Children)

Site Project Leadership:

Irma Ugalde, MD
Irma Ugalde, MD

Dr. Ugalde completed her training in pediatric emergency medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and is dual board certified in pediatrics and pediatric emergency medicine. She is currently the PI for the PECARN validation study for head and abdominal trauma and the PI for the RADICAL study in children to delineate a blood test to differentiate between viral and bacterial illness. She is interested in research to promote evidence based practices in pediatric emergency medicine with a special interest in pediatric trauma imaging and sepsis.