Primary indication for admissions to a multi-specialty paediatric intensive care unit in Sri Lanka

Abstract

It is critical to analyse the pattern of admissions made to a multi-specialty ICU (Intensive Care Unit) facility in order to enhance the standard of care, update resources, and to train the PICU (Paediatric Intensive Care Unit) personnel. Policymakers, funders, healthcare practitioners and administrators must be aware of the epidemiology and patterns of ICU admissions improve existing health services and plan for future delivery of intensive care.Objectives was to describe the primary indication for admissions to a multi-specialty Paediatric Intensive Care Unit of Teaching Hospital, Karapitiya, Sri Lanka. Children from birth to 16 years of age treated in the PICU from 1st April 2022 to 31st March, 2023 were retrospectively analysed. Information was collected on age, sex, home town, mode of admission, primary specialty indication, length of stay, main system involved, requirement of mechanical ventilation and survival.A total of 341 children were admitted and were included in the study. 60.5 % of the study population were males. Transfers within hospitals (62.1%) outnumbered transfers outside hospitals (37.9%).The average PICU stay was 5.8 days. Respiratory illnesses accounted for 54.4% of medical admissions and was the most common reason for intensive medical care. Other indications included neurological problems (21.3%) and multiorgan sepsis (8.4%). Leading cause of surgical specialty admissions was post-operative care (80.8%). Overall survival rate was 87.9% and mortality rate was 12.1%.Respiratory and neurological problems and multi-organ sepsis were the most common reasons for medical admission to the PICU. Leading cause of surgical specialty admissions was post-operative care. Overall survival rate was 87.9%.