[Economic considerations in critically ill intensive care patients]

Since 1992 the data for all patients referred to our ICU have been entered on computer and analyzed for parameters relevant to therapeutic effectiveness on the one hand and cost-containment on the other. The analysis of data for 5424 patients concerning APACHE II-score, age, number of ICU days, time of mechanical ventilation and/or hemodialysis, cardio-respiratory complications and insufficiency, ICU discharge date and hospital discharge date demonstrates a profile or our intensive care services using all resources efficiently. The data revealed no ethically acceptable parameter or necessity to include economic considerations in medical decisions which had to be taken for individual patients and situations.