title: Length of surgical intensive care unit stay and risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess length of stay of patients in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and to determine risk factors for a long ICU stay.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of retrospective data.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital surgical ICU.
  
  
  METHODS
  Out of a total of 681 admissions to the surgical ICU during a one year period (July 1, 1996 - June 30, 1997), 613 had complete medical data which were analysed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency distribution was skewed to the right. The median and mode were the same (2 days). 35.89 per cent of the ICU admissions had a long stay (>2 days). Independent risk factors for a long ICU stay in the multivariate logistic regression analysis are increasing age, unstable condition, long weaning time, diuretic therapy and re-operation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Knowing the length of ICU stay, risk factors for a long ICU stay and how to shorten the ICU stay have potential application in optimizing ICU resource planning and decreasing the health care cost.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bunburaphong
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Riyagoon
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ramdit
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Werawatganon
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Techapichetvanich
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D003363:Cost Control; D004232:Diuretics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006785:Hospitals, University / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D015300:Ventilator Weaning / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D004232:Diuretics