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Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies
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Observational Study Protocol for Repeated Clinical Examination and Critical Care Ultrasonography Within the Simple Intensive Care Studies

Published on: January 16, 2019

[Prolonged length of stays in pediatric intensive care. Retrospective study of 100 stays]

B Auburtin1, C Saizou, S Dauger

  • 1Service de pédiatrie réanimation, hôpital Robert-Debré, 48, boulevard Sérurier, 75019 Paris, France.

Archives De Pediatrie : Organe Officiel De La Societe Francaise De Pediatrie
|March 10, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Pediatric intensive care units face challenges with long-stay patients. This study identified severe congenital anomalies, prematurity, gastroesophageal reflux, and nosocomial infections as key factors contributing to prolonged hospitalizations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Intensive Care Medicine
  • Neonatology

Background:

  • Pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are experiencing new challenges, particularly with patients requiring prolonged stays.
  • Understanding the underlying causes of these long stays is crucial for improving patient outcomes and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify the primary etiologic factors contributing to long-stay patients in PICUs.
  • To recognize the significant comorbidities associated with prolonged PICU admissions.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective review of 100 hospitalizations exceeding 30 days in a PICU over a 3-year period (1993-1995).
  • Analysis included 95 unique patients admitted to Robert-Debre Hospital's PICU, representing 9.1% of total admissions.

Main Results:

  • The majority of long-stay patients were newborns (65%), with severe congenital anomalies (44 patients) and very premature infants (26 patients) being predominant.
  • The mean duration of mechanical ventilation was 110 days. Key comorbidities included nosocomial infections (89% of cases) and gastroesophageal reflux (41% of cases).

Conclusions:

  • Addressing severe congenital anomalies, prematurity, gastroesophageal reflux, and nosocomial infections is essential for PICUs to mitigate prolonged patient stays.
  • PICU strategies should be adapted to target these specific factors to prevent long hospitalizations.
Abstract

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