[An assessment of the patients in a pediatric intensive care unit]

Twenty four patients, consecutively hospitalized in the "Dr. Carlos J. Finlay" Military Hospital, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Havana City, were evaluated by the therapeutic intervention system (TISS), in order to extend knowledges on evaluative system. According to the clinic classification system, the cases were clustered into four classes. The most severe cases are included into class IV (higher score), while cases clustered into class I (lower score) are those under current surveillance. Ruling clinical classification corresponded to class II and IV, with seven cases in each group. Incidence of diagnosis of infection of the central nervous system, followed by intoxication, was observed. Mean index of patient/nurse score was 22.3 in the most severe cases. There was little difference between day shift (22.9 points) and night shift (24.1 points).