Physiological values and procedures in the 24 h before ICU admission from the ward

Anaesthesia. 1999 Jun;54(6):529-34. doi: 10.1046/j.1365-2044.1999.00837.x.

Abstract

Physiological values and interventions in the 24 h before entry to intensive care were collected for admissions from hospital wards. In a 13-month period, there were 79 admissions in 76 patients who had been in hospital for at least 24 h and had not undergone surgery within 24 h of admission to intensive care. Thirty-four per cent of patients underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation before intensive care admission. Using Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scoring to quantify abnormal physiology in the group as a whole, a significant deterioration in respiratory function before admission was found. During the 6-h period immediately before intensive care admission, 75% of patients received oxygen, 37% underwent arterial blood gas sampling, and oxygen saturation was measured in 61% of patients, 63% of whom had an oxygen saturation of less than 90%. Overall hospital mortality in the study group was 58%. Information collected on the wards identified seriously ill patients who may have benefited from earlier expert treatment.

MeSH terms

  • APACHE*
  • Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  • Critical Care* / statistics & numerical data
  • Hospital Mortality
  • Humans
  • Length of Stay
  • London / epidemiology
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Patient Selection*
  • Patient Transfer* / statistics & numerical data
  • Patients' Rooms / statistics & numerical data
  • Respiration Disorders / therapy
  • Time Factors