Sedation and restraint practices in UK paediatric intensive cares: a telephone survey

paralytic ileus. An ileal strictoplasty was performed and small bowel adhesions were divided. On his day 14 postoperatively, he was discharged home. Further injuries at the time of the accident included a fracture of L3 and skin lacerations. Discussion Major trauma in children is fortunately rare, but it is known to be the commonest cause of death in children above 1 year of age in the developed world. While large bowel injury is known to occur at any impact velocity, small bowel injury is usually a result of high velocity impacts and is reported in 10±16% of patients sustaining blunt abdominal trauma. Associated injuries are common and contribute to the mortality rate, which is reported to be 25% or more. In some cases, symptoms can be minimal, diagnosis might be dif®cult and patients might present later with peritonitis or ileus symptoms; other patients can present with intraperitoneal bleeding requiring immediate lifesaving surgery. It is possible to manage patients with such injuries in a District Hospital.