• Claudio Schvartsman, Renato Carrera, and Sulim Abramovici.
• Instituto da Criança, Hospital das Clínicas, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo. schvartsman@globo.com
• J Pediatr (Rio J). 2005 Nov 1;81(5 Suppl):S223-9.

ObjectivesSince trauma has a great impact on mortality and preventable morbidity among children and adolescents, in addition to its social consequences, the aim of this study is to evaluate peculiarities regarding prehospital, in-hospital, and interhospital assessment of injured pediatric patients.Sources Of DataThe Cochrane database was searched for systematic reviews and controlled trials, the MEDLINE and LILACS databases were used for the last 5 years, and review of older reference sections in significant publications using trauma, pediatric trauma, primary survey, secondary survey, in-hospital assessment, prehospital and transportation as keywords.Summary Of The FindingsThere are different strategies that constitute the systematic assessment of the injured pediatric patient. Nevertheless, almost all strategies involve knowing the peculiarities about the pediatric population, with regard to age, to the growth and development process, and finally, to the minimally acceptable and available resources.ConclusionsThe most important principle is to do no further harm. If the peculiarities about airway maintenance, ventilation, circulation with hemorrhage control, disability, exposure up to secondary survey and preparation of prehospital and interhospital transportation are properly taken care of, better results will certainly be obtained.

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