[Pediatric intermediate care unit in general hospital: recent survey in French Polynesia]

In 2006, decrees relating to pediatric critical care defined the main rules of pediatric intermediate care units (PIMU). These units ensure continuous monitoring of children at risk of critical deterioration without requiring invasive support. In French Polynesia, a PIMU has been integrated into the general pediatric ward since the new hospital opened in November 2010. We conducted a prospective observational study of patients admitted to the PIMU depending on whether they were surgical patients or were secondarily transferred to the ICU or were transferred via long-distance medical air transport for specialized care. For the very first operational year, 199 children (median age, 3 years old) were admitted to the PIMU: for the most part respiratory (31.7%) and neurologic (23.6%) failures were involved. Surgical patients more often required a prosthesis or treatments associated with serious adverse effects than nonsurgical patients (respectively, 46% vs. 16%, P<0.01; 29% vs. 7%, P<0.01) and the length of the hospital stay was longer (5 days vs. 2, P<0.01). Patients who were secondarily transferred to the ICU had a higher admission Pediatric RISk of Mortality (PRISM) score (6 vs. 4, P<0.01) and required more treatments associated with serious adverse effects (50% vs. 20%, P<0.01) than nontransferred patients. The length of the hospital stay was longer (6days) for patients who underwent long-distance medical transport. In addition to PIMU defining criteria, the use of treatments associated with serious adverse effects should be considered risk factors of impaired prognosis in local practical procedures. Assessment of PIMU activity should take into account that intensive surgical care and geographical isolation are closely related to increased length of hospital stay.