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Children admitted to a general intensive care unit
K P Dawson1, G Downward, N Mogridge
1Department of Paediatrics, Christchurch Hospital.
Insights
This study analyzed pediatric intensive care unit admissions at Christchurch Hospital from 1980-1987. Acute epiglottitis and motor vehicle accidents were leading causes, with an overall mortality rate of 14.5%.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric critical care medicine
- Intensive care unit (ICU) admissions analysis
- Retrospective cohort studies
Background:
- Pediatric intensive care unit admissions data from Christchurch Hospital between 1980 and 1987 were analyzed.
- Children constituted 10.7% of all general intensive care unit admissions during the study period.
- Multidisciplinary involvement, including intensivists, pediatricians, and surgeons, was common in patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the pattern of pediatric admissions to a general intensive care unit.
- To identify the primary medical and surgical reasons for pediatric intensive care.
- To report the mortality rates associated with pediatric intensive care admissions.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of patient records.
- Data collection on demographics, diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes.
- Categorization of admissions into medical and surgical causes.
Main Results:
- A total of 399 children were admitted to the general intensive care unit.
- Acute epiglottitis was the most frequent medical admission diagnosis.
- Trauma from motor vehicle accidents was the most common surgical reason for admission.
- The overall mortality rate was 14.5%, with 13% for medical and 16% for surgical cases.
Conclusions:
- The findings on pediatric intensive care admissions and outcomes align with international reports.
- Understanding admission patterns is crucial for resource allocation and clinical practice improvement in pediatric intensive care.
- Further research could explore trends and specific interventions impacting outcomes.
Abstract:
A retrospective analysis of the pattern of admission of children to the general intensive care unit of Christchurch Hospital during the period 1980-7 inclusive, is reported. Three hundred and ninety-nine children were admitted during this period and they formed 10.7% of all admissions to the unit. In addition to the intensive care specialist, a paediatrician was involved with the management on 260 occasions and a surgeon on 139 occasions. Acute epiglottitis was the single commonest medical cause for admission and trauma from motor vehicle accidents the commonest surgical reason. Overall mortality was 14.5%, 13% for medical conditions and 16% for those with surgical problems. These results are in keeping with those reported from overseas.