ICU burden in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan; a descriptive analysis

Abstract

Introduction: ICU acts as a station for critically ill patients referred form different medical disciplines for rigorous observation and intervention for a potentially curable disease. In Pakistan, a previous study showed the mortality to be 16.1% in one year. We conducted this study to record the data of patients admitted to our ICU regarding the medical condition requiring such admission, and the outcome.
Methodology: As a descriptive study, the data were collected from main ICU of Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad. Every patient referred from different medical disciplines for admission in the ICU, for a period of four months, from July to October 2018, was included in the study. The data were taken from the registration logs of ICU and were entered into a specially prepared datasheet. Statistical analysis was done and the results given as means, percentages or ranges, as appropriate.
Results: A total of 503 patients were admitted, with a female preponderance of 52%; 45% of the patients being younger than 30 years; and a mortality of 55%. Regarding the flow, medicine department seems to have the highest flow. Neurosurgery and gyne & obs disciplines seem to have the highest mortality i.e. 77% and 63% respectively.  CVA, hepatobiliary disease, meningitis, lung problems, road traffic accidents (RTA), eclampsia, puerperal sepsis, postpartum hemorrhage and gut perforations were some of the important causes with worst outcome.
Conclusion: The concept of calculating ICU mortality may offer some insights regarding the management of patients based upon a multidisciplinary approach. Early identification of the most common diseases associated with the highest morbidity and mortality is utterly important. The burden of ICU should be shared through a combined approach.
Citation: Aziz PA, Nasir Z, Shahzad G, Mahmood A, Pathan S, Raja RA. ICU burden in a tertiary care hospital in Pakistan; a descriptive analysis. Anaesth Pain & Intensive Care 2018;22(4):431-437
Received – 22 Nov 2018; Reviewed – 30 Dec, 31 Dec 2018; Corrected & Accepted – 2 Jan 2018