Journal of pediatric surgery
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The objective of this study is to determine if grade of liver injury predicts outcome after blunt hepatic trauma in children and to initiate analysis of current management practices to optimize resource utilization without compromising patient care. ⋯ Mortality and morbidity rates in pediatric liver injuries, grades I to IV, correlate with associated injuries not the degree of hepatic damage. ALT, AST, and transfusion requirements are significantly related to degree of liver injury. Low-grade and isolated high-grade liver injuries seldom require transfusion. Blunt liver trauma rarely requires surgical intervention. In retrospect, the need for expensive ICU observation for low-grade and isolated high-grade hepatic injuries is questionably warranted.