Prolonged stay in pediatric intensive care units: mortality and healthcare resource consumption

Characteristics and Outcomes of Long-Stay Patients in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit

“…14 The rate of nosocomial infection (30%) in our longstay patients was lower as compared with other studies (75-96%). 6,15 The higher rate of nosocomial infection in other studies may be due to the inclusion of patients with suspected infection at time of admission to PICU, as the infections of nosocomial origin could not be established. 6 Our study found that presence of nosocomial infection was associated with mortality of PICU long-stay patients.…”

“…6,15 The higher rate of nosocomial infection in other studies may be due to the inclusion of patients with suspected infection at time of admission to PICU, as the infections of nosocomial origin could not be established. 6 Our study found that presence of nosocomial infection was associated with mortality of PICU long-stay patients. The number of nosocomial infections acquired by the long-stay patients during their stay in the PICU was associated with mortality (p <0.01).…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Approximately 1 to 4.7% of total PICU admissions result in a prolonged LOS. [1][2][3]5,6 Even though this is a small percentage, this subset of children requires increased critical care support and resources. 4,6,7 In addition, compared with other patients, long-stay PICU patients have a higher risk of mortality (15-40%) and long-term morbidity.…”

“…[1][2][3]5,6 Even though this is a small percentage, this subset of children requires increased critical care support and resources. 4,6,7 In addition, compared with other patients, long-stay PICU patients have a higher risk of mortality (15-40%) and long-term morbidity. 1,2,4,7 The management of these patients can be challenging because of the increased risk of poor outcome and intensive use of PICU resources that are costly.…”

An Emerging Population: The Chronically Critically Ill

“…Patients may or may not have tracheostomies and be mechanically ventilated (White, 2012). Although experts disagree on the length of time that a chronic care device needs to be in place for the patient to be considered chronically critically ill, the range of cited length of mechanical ventilation is as little as 2 days to as long as 15 years, with an average time cited as 21 days (Boniatti et al, 2011, González-Cortés et al, 2011, King, 2012and Nelson et al, 2010. Researchers cite a range of 16 to 40 days after tracheostomy placement and intensive care length of stay anywhere from 7 to 51 days as the criteria to be considered chronically critically ill (Carson, 2012).…”