Outcome evaluation in a surgical intensive care unit in Barbados

Abstract

SummaryThe performance of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II scoring system was prospectively assessed in the surgical intensive care unit at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Barbados. A total of 309 patients admitted consecutively during a 2-year period (1999)(2000)(2001) were evaluated. Demographic data, diagnosis, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score, duration of stay and hospital outcome were recorded. The predicted mortality for every patient and the costs incurred were also calculated. The overall observed mortality rate was 15.9% while the mean predicted mortality rate for our case-mix was 16.4%, which is comparable to results from developed countries. The cost incurred per patient was much lower at $13 636 (Barbados), compared to the patients' cost in North America ($60 000 Barbados).

Outcomes and Health-related Quality of Life following Intensive Care Unit stay in Barbados

“…The mean length of stay for non-survivors (9.3 days) was lower than that reported (14 days) from the previous study (3). The length of stay in the present study is lower than that predicted using APACHE IV.…”

“…The original 'APACHE I' has undergone various modifications, resulting in the current APACHE IV (2). In Barbados and in the other English-speaking Caribbean countries, several studies reported the use of APACHE II to stratify ICU patients and evaluate mortality and performance (3,4). Literature search did not reveal any reports from the Caribbean region evaluating APACHE IV.…”

Cost evaluation in the intensive care units of Trinidad applying the cost‐blocks method – an international comparison*

“… Comparison of cost blocks between Trinidad, Barbados and UK (Barbados data from [8]; UK data from [16]). …”

“…The proportion of expenditure for Clinical support services was comparable between the UK and Trinidad, whereas the Barbados study showed a very high proportion for this block (Fig. 2) [8].…”

“…Hence the cost‐blocks method is relevant to our situation. There is one published report from Barbados applying this method [8].…”