| Abstract: | Objective : To study the profile and outcome of children admitted to a tertiary level pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in India.Methods : Prospective study of patient demographics, PRISM III scores, diagnoses, treatment, morbidity and mortality of all PICU
admissions.Results : 948 children were admitted to the PICU. Mean age was 41.48 months. Male to female ratio was 2.95:1. Mean PRISM III score
on admission was 18.50. Diagnoses included respiratory (19.7%), cardiac (9.7%), neurological (17.9%), infectious (12.5%),
trauma (11.7%), other surgical (8.8%).196 children (20.68%) required mechanical ventilation. Average duration of ventilation
was 6.39 days. 27 children (30.7 children /1000 admissions) had acute respiratory distress syndrome. Gross mortality was 6.7%
(59 patients). PRISMIII adjusted mortality was directly proportional to PRISMIII scores. 49.5% of nonsurvivors had multiorgan
failure. Average length of PICU stay was 4.52 +/−2.6 days. Complications commonly encountered Were atelectasis (6.37%), accidental
extubation (2%), and pneumothorax (0.9%). Incidence of nosocomial infections was 16.86%.Conclusion : Our data appears to be similar with regards to PRISMIII scores and adjusted mortality, length of the PICU stay, and duration
of ventilation, to previously published western data. Multiorgan failure remains a major cause of death. As expected, Dengue
and malaria were common. Incidence of nosocomial infections was somewhat high. Interestingly, more boys got admitted to the
PICU as compared to girls. Clearly more studies are required to assess the overall outcomes of critically ill children in
India |
