Morbidity and survival in pediatric intensive care unit

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the morbidity profile and survival of critically ill children admitted to the tertiary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) during the last ten years.

Methods: A retrospective single-center, observational study, which included all consecutive children treated in the PICU over a ten years. Clinical and demographic data were obtained from medical records and an electronic database of patients. Statistical analysis applied standard methods, and the research was approved by the Ethics Committee of the institution.

Results: In the ten-year, 28,214 children were hospitalized at the clinic, of which 4,052 (14.36%) in the PICU, 2488 of them were neonates (61.4%), and 1564 over neonatal age (38.6%), 508 infants (32.5%), and 1056 children >1.0 years (67.5%), without gender difference. The morbidity profile and survival were age-specific. Respiratory failure was the most common, especially in premature neonates. Mortaliti rate in neonates was 10.8%, and over neonatal age 6.7%.

Conclusion: In the past decade in our centre decreased number of total hospitalisations, and increased admissions to PICU. The number of neonates admitted to our PICU increased significantly, especially premature ones, without gender differences. The morbidity profile and survival were age-specific.