[Diagnostic key for intensive care patients: combination of clinical parameters with laboratory findings]

A new diagnostic key has been established based on the reports of 3845 critically ill patients in our medical intensive care unit. The clinical diagnoses in these patients were classified in 22 different groups according to different organs or etiological entities (diseases of the liver, infectious diseases, intoxications etc.). 42 different laboratory parameters were selected for classification of metabolic or organ-related complications. Combining of clinical diagnoses with laboratory values characterizes the seriously ill patient. Our new system proved to be practicable in describing the degree, complications and prognosis of disorders in intensive care medicine. The results are demonstrated in patients with hepatic coma.