Abstract
Mechanical ventilation (MV) can be considered to be an absolute indication for ICU admission. By retrospective analysis of those patients mechanically ventilated at two tertiary care centers, we attempted to identify factors that could be applied in projecting future ICU bed utilization. Pediatric MV data was compared to total admissions, general population base, patient age, and indication for MV.
Out of a total of 3,654 admissions, 1,010 were mechanically ventilated(27.6%). Based upon our population base, this represented 14.2 admission/yr/105 population which required MV. The mean age of all patients requiring MV was 4.22 yr. but 49.8% were <age 2yr. The mean duration of intensive care for all MV patients was 7.81 days but patients ventilated postoperatively required only 4.93 days(p<.01). Only 2.9% required >1 mo. of ventilation but of that chronic group 71.4% were <2yr.old. MV patients accounted for 53.1% of total ICU patient days.
Based upon an analysis of this data the following conclusions can be made: 1) a minimum of .30 ICU beds/105population are needed for MV patients, 2) the percent of patients requiring MV is the most important factor in determining the need for ICU beds, 3) at least twice the number of beds allocated for MV patients should be available to accomodate other critically ill patients, 4) ICU's with <39.9% post-operative MV may need additional beds above the minimum.
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Furgiuele, T., Mickell, J., Mulroy, J. et al. PEDIATRIC MECHANICAL VENTILATION: A BASIS FOR PROJECTING ICU BED NEEDS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 104 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00064
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00064