title: Use of a general surgical high dependency unit in a district general hospital: the first 10 years.
abstract: The high dependency unit (HDU) is a facility that is an essential component of any surgical unit. This paper reviews the development of a general surgical HDU managed by surgeons over a decade, with analysis of activity from 1991 to 1996. The general surgical workload has increased during the 10-year period, and the case-mix has become richer by an increase in vascular surgery. The HDU provides essential post-operative care to major surgical patients and minimizes the cancellation of aortic operations without placing an extra burden on the intensive care services. The HDU centralises sick patients, facilitating their care, and provides a learning environment for trainee surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Manchester Royal Infirmary, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coggins
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Cossart
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004739:England; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011182:Postoperative Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013503:Surgery Department, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*