To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of children with severe accidental injuries admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU).

A retrospective study was performed of general situation, clinical characteristics, and prognosis of 118 children with severe accidental injuries admitted to PICU in Guangdong Foshan Maternal and Children Care Service Centre from January 2012 to October 2018. Gender, geographical distribution, source, and presence or absence of guardian in 118 children were analyzed, and the incidence rate and types of severe accidental injuries in different age groups were compared by the χ² test.

A total of 118 patients were included, accounting for 9.60% of the total number of children admitted to the PICU. In general situation, the differences of gender (72 boys vs 46 girls, χ²=11.46, P<0.05 )and presence or absence of guardian (48 vs 70, χ²=8.20, P<0.05 ) were statistically significant. No significant differences were found in geographical distribution and source (all P>0.05). The number and incidence rate of accidental injuries in different age groups were: 39 cases in infant group (33.05%), 55 cases in toddler group (44.92 %), 19 cases in preschool age group (16.10%), 6 cases in school age group (5.08%), 1 case in adolescent group (0.85%). The incidence rate of severe accidental injuries among different age groups was statistically significant (χ²=104.72, P<0.05), the case of severe accidental injuries in toddler group is the most. The types of severe accidental injuries included 41 cases of foreign bodies in the bronchus (34.75%), 22 cases of suffocation (18.64%), 18 cases of poisoning (15. 25%), 14 cases of drowning (11.86%), 7 cases of traffic accident injury (5.93%), 7 cases of foreign bodies in the gastrointestinal tract (5.93%), 3 cases of burning (2.54%), and 6 cases of others (5.08%). The type of severe accidental injuries among different age groups was statistically significant (χ²=102.92, P<0.05). The average length of hospital stays was 9.48 days, and the average cost was 9,126 RMB. There were 17 deaths, the causes of deaths included drowning (n=7), suffocation (n=6), poisoning (n=3), and others (n=1).

Among children with severe accidental injuries, boys are more common, and the incidence is higher in the infant group. Drowning and suffocation are the first two causes of accidental injury related death. In order to reduce accidental injuries, we should strengthen safety education and awareness among parents.