Experience with an intensive care unit in a developing country.
In September 1963 an intensive care unit was established at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital in Nigeria. The incidence of mortality was significantly high (38%). This was attributed to several factors: (1) severity of illnesses, types of illness and antecedent period of neglect; (2) lack of a critical care medicine program; (3) limited numbers of skilled, full-time intensive care unit personnel, including physicians, nurses, inhalation therapists and paramedics, and (4) the high incidence of sepsis in the intensive care unit.
D003906:Developing Countries; D006044:Goiter, Nodular / Q000601:surgery; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D009026:Mortality; D009549:Nigeria; D011052:Poliomyelitis, Bulbar / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D011818:Rabies / Q000401:mortality; D013742:Tetanus / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000401:mortality