TISS 28 or SOFA: good predicting factors for admission in a surgical intensive care unit longer than 24 hours

To investigate the application of the Therapeutic Intervention Scoring System (TISS-28) and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score to the surgical intensive care patients, and to find associated factors affecting length of stay (LOS).

Prospective data; from 1st July 2004 to 31st December 2004 at Siriraj Hospital. TISS-28 and SOFA and other data were recorded within the first 24 hours of ICU admission.

Average TISS-28 and SOFA values for patients who required >24 hr ICU stay were significantly different from those who required < 24 hr ICU stay (29.7 +/- 7.9 and 3.1 +/- 2.8 points versus 19.4 +/- 5.9 and 1.1 +/- 1.9 points, respectively p < 0.001). The other independent predictors of LOS > 24 hrs were ventilator support; vasoactive agents administration, central venous line insertion, emergency operation, renal dysfunction, and post-operative fever.

The severity scores (TISS 28 and SOFA) can sufficiently demonstrate the workload and also the good predictors of ICU length of stay.