[Intensive care in a pediatrics service. Epidemiologic study]

During the past 10 years, there has been an increase in the number of pediatric services with intensive care units (ICUs). An epidemiological study based in the experience of two years in a ICU is presented. During the study period, 213 patients, accounting for the 6% of total admitted in the pediatric ward (2,898) and 1.8% of newborn (2,091), were admitted in the ICU. The average length of stay was 3.74 days. Regarding the degree of severity two groups of patients were considered: The first group were 104 (48.8%) and they were admitted for close nursing care and observation, while 109 (51%) were to receive an active treatment respiratory problems were the more frequent accounting for the 41% of patients. The total mortality rate was 5.6% and this rate raised until 20% if only newborn patients are considered. The results of this study can be helping in order to planing the organization in this units facing with many problems sometimes difficult to resolve.