Invasive Procedures and Length of Stay among Critically Ill Patients in ICU over Three Years: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Introduction: Intensive care unit (ICU) provides advanced specialized medical and nursing care for critically ill patients. Advanced monitoring techniques are needed to prevent physiologic deterioration, while the underlying disease treated and resolved. Frequents invasive procedure and treatment are used and affect the death rate and length of hospitalization. This study aimed to describe the variables associated with critically ill patients and describe the standard invasive procedures or treatments used among patients in ICU. Method: A retrospective comparative study which utilized the ICU electronic database. The data of 446 dead patients who have admitted to ICU between January 2014 and December 2016 as a case of sepsis, heart failure or COPD exacerbation were enrolled. Result: Almost of all patients had received intravenous fluid and vasoactive drugs. The mechanical ventilation support and insertion of the indwelling urethral catheter commonly used among patients with critical illnesses; 78.3%, 41.3% respectively. One-third of all sepsis and heart failure patients were received CVC during ICU stay; patients with sepsis illness had less hospital length of stay than patients with heart failure and COPD (p < 0.05). Also, patients with sepsis illness had less hospital LOS than patients with heart failure and COPD (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences between ICU length of stay based on patients critical illness. Conclusion: We found a reduction in the death number among sepsis, heart failure and COPD patients with move forwards in years, the variety of death rate depends on the type of invasive procedure and treatment performed for each illness, mechanical ventilation support and insertion of indwelling urethral catheter commonly used among patients with critical illnesses.