Outcome of long-stay intensive care patients.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the numbers, characteristics and outcome for patients requiring long-term intensive care.


METHODS
Observational cohort study in 23 Scottish intensive care units over a 3-year period.


METHODS
323 patients with an ICU stay of 30 days or more.


RESULTS
Although representing only 1.6% of patients, those with long stays occupied 15.7% of bed-days. Hospital survival among these patients was 59.9%. With the available data it was not possible to discriminate survivors from non-survivors.


CONCLUSIONS
Since these patients have a relatively high hospital survival, resources should not be withheld from them on the basis of prolonged ICU stay alone, even in countries with limited ICU provision.
Hughes
M
M
Scottish Intensive Care, Society Audit Group, Victoria Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK. mh4493@compuserve.com
MacKirdy
F N
FN
Norrie
J
J
Grant
I S
IS
D018806:APACHE; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors