[Daily survey of procedures as markers of resources utilization]

To assess and to follow along the time-span of ICU stay the process of resources allocation and utilization.

Prospective study.

A cohort of 778 patients consecutively admitted to 7 multipurpose general ICU in the Milano area were enrolled in a survey of the daily performed interventions/procedures.

The majority of diagnostic procedure/interventions were performed during the first two days. The number and quality of interventions were transferred into points obtaining a score system in non-monetary units. The resource allocation process shows a regular trend in the sub-intensive patients who were only monitorized. On the contrary the 258 patients who were intensively treated and survived show a phase of high resource-consumption (about 30 daily points: roughly twice the score of monitorized patients) then followed by a post-intensive phase with a resource consumption resulting in a daily score absolutely equal to the sub-intensive patients. The intensive patients who die show a significantly higher score than survived patients. Both daily and cumulative scores do not show differences among different type of patients.

The evaluation of the process of resources allocation, even if in non-monetary units enables the knowledge of the trend of ICU costs and allows the elaboration of the appropriate budget mechanism.