Journal of Karnali Academy of Health Sciences (Jan 2021)

Clinical profile of Neurosurgical Patients Admitted into the Intensive Care Unit of Rural Tertiary Care Center

  • Praveen Kumar Giri,
  • Prem Prasad Panta,
  • Neelam Khadka

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 3

Abstract

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Background:Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a special department of a tertiary hospital for patients with the most severe and life‐threatening conditions which will often require constant and close intensive monitoring, support from specialist equipment and medications in order to maintain normal physiological functions. Teaching Hospital of Karnali Academy of Health Science (KAHS) is the largest tertiary institution in the mid-western region of Nepal providing specialist care. This study will provide information about the clinical profile and outcome of the neurosurgical patient admitted in our ICU. Methods:This is a hospital based secondary data analysis carried out in the teaching hospital of KAHS, Jumla, Nepal. This study was conductedbetween March 2019 to June 2020. Data were retrieved from ICU record book and which had included demographic characteristics, diagnosis on admission, reason for admission, duration of admission, medical/surgical specialty requesting admission, nature of interventions, and outcome of patients admitted. Results:A total of 31 patients were admitted into the ICU, there were 74.2%(n=23) males and 25.8%(n=8) females giving a male to female ratio of 3:1. The ages ranged from 3 month to 70 years . The age group of 15−59 years accounted for highest 51.6% (n=16) of all the ICU admissions. Among all cases, highest 64.5%(n=20) cases were presented from Juma. Out of the 31 admissions 77.4% (n=24) was due to head injury ,while other neurosurgical cases (Stroke, spinal cord injury) accounted 22.6%(n=7). Further dividing head injuries, highest 38.7% (n=12) is due to severe head injury, 22.6% (n=7) moderate head injury and 16.1% (n=5) were mild head injury. Conclusion:Head injuries are the highest number of neurosurgical admissions into the ICU with relatively high mortality. Developing a viable trauma team and well equipped neurosurgical ICU with adequately trained staff will help to improve the outcome of patients.

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