title: Analysis of indications for early discharge from the intensive care unit. Clinical efficacy assessment project: American College of Physicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To formulate recommendations for the development of early intensive care unit (ICU) discharge criteria for low-risk monitor patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature review of published reports over the period 1966 to 1991 pertaining to ICU discharge criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies identifying patients admitted to ICUs who could be characterized as low risk. Patient populations of interest included adults (> or = 18 years of age) with low-risk medical or mixed medical/surgical conditions; cardiac care unit and burn patients were excluded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1,492 articles identified as being pertinent to ICU discharge, only 2 studies (by the same group of investigators) were found that distinguished low-risk populations among medical and mixed medical/surgical ICU patients. The physiologic component of the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) was used in both of these studies to ascertain the degree of risk. No studies were found that compared outcomes of low-risk patients remaining in the ICU after 24 h with those transferred to other hospital locations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Objective methods (such as APACHE III) should be used to identify low-risk patients at 24 h post-ICU admission. A multicenter study should be conducted to compare outcomes on patients identified as low risk who are randomly assigned to alternative hospital locations for treatment versus those assigned to continued ICU treatment until routine ICU discharge. Mortality and quality of life data should be used as outcome measures (prior to ICU admission and 6 months post-ICU discharge).
authors.affiliation: Rush Medical College, Chicago.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Bone
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: McElwee
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Eubanks
authors.forename: E H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Gluck
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000592:standards*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors