Journal of Clinical Sciences (Jan 2017)

Improvement in intensive care unit: Effect on mortality

  • Adeniyi Adesida,
  • Olanrewaju Akanmu,
  • Rita Oladele,
  • Oyebola Olubodun Adekola,
  • Ibironke Desalu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.4103/2468-6859.204703
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14, no. 2
pp. 62 – 67

Abstract

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Background: The Lagos University Teaching Hospital's Intensive Care Unit (ICU) was founded in 1975. It was designed as an eight-bedded ICU, a previous review of outcome of surgical admissions in the ICU in 2002 placed mortality at 40.3%, however, presently run as a five-bed unit with new ICU equipment procured in 2012, arterial blood gas machines, patient monitors, and ventilators with sustained multidisciplinary approach to patient management. We compared the number of admissions, mortality, and discharges to the ward 1 year before (Period I) and after the upgrade of the ICU facilities (Period II). Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients admitted into the ICU between June 2011 and May 2013. We looked at the admission register of the ICU and retrieved biometric data, diagnosis, age, pattern of units admitting patients into ICU, length of stay (LOS), and outcome of ICU care whether the patient died in ICU or was discharged to the ward. Results: There were 122 patients admitted into the ICU in Period I and 156 patients were admitted in Period II with a mean LOS of 6.3 ± 5.4 days and 7.8 ± 7.3 days, respectively. Mortality rate in Period I was 74.6% while mortality fell to 57.7% in Period II (P = 0.005). Conclusion: There was a significant improvement in the ICU outcome with the upgrade of the ICU facilities.

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