الفهرس Only 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Intensive care units (ICU) are always nearly full capacity which makes admission very difficult and may affect patient outcome at times of shortage. To identify the variables capable of predicting which patient will benefit most from ICU admission, therefore prioritizing those patients when there is shortage of ICU beds. Two - hundred and fifty cases were included in this study (age: 1month - 14 years; median 14months) and were subjected to thorough history taking, meticulous clinical examination, laboratory and radiological investigations when needed. ICU admissions occurred within 24 hours of presentation in 63.6% of cases and after 24 hours in 22.4% of cases. Mortality rate was 37.6%. Survival was better among early than late ( > 24 hrs) ICU admissions (p = 0.05). Worst outcome was associated with pre-admission cardiac arrest (p < 0.001),need for pre - admission intubation (p < 0.001), high initial total inotropic dose (p < 0.001) and thrombocytopenia (p < 0.001). Early ICU admission when indicated is associated with a better outcome. Pre-admission assessment can help prioritize those who would benefit from ICU. Not all cases referred to the ICU need an intensive care