title: Clinical profile of children requiring early unplanned admission to the PICU.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The goal of this study was to describe the frequency, characteristics, and outcomes of children who require early unplanned admission to the PICU within 24 hours of hospitalization from the emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was a retrospective audit of 24 months of prospectively collected medical emergency team records at a tertiary pediatric hospital in Canada. Our review identified 39 hospitalized children who had an activation that resulted in unplanned admission to the PICU within 24 hours of admission from the ED.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Forty-six percent of the study subjects were infants aged < 1 year, and 64% were male. Respiratory complaints were the most common reason for hospitalization (59%). Preexisting medical conditions (51%), abnormal respiratory rates (46%), abnormal heart rates (33%), abnormal blood gas values (49%), high supplemental oxygen requirement (23%), and treatment with nebulized medications (46%), intravenous fluids (33%), and antibiotics (33%) were common. The median time to medical emergency team activation was 9.4 hours (interquartile range: 4.4-14.5). Nearly one-half (49%) of the patients required a significant intervention after admission to the PICU, with a mean length of stay of 3.4 days and a mortality rate of 50/%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Male subjects, infants aged < 1 year, and children with respiratory complaints accounted for a large proportion of children requiring early unplanned admission to the PICU within 24 hours of hospitalization from the ED. Further studies are required to determine which factors are associated with deterioration after hospitalization.
authors: Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, 401 Smyth Rd, Ottawa, Ontario K1H 8L1, Canada. kkrmpotic@cheo.on.ca
authors: Kristina
authors: K
authors: Krmpotic
authors: Anna-Theresa
authors: AT
authors: Lobos
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D015278:Intensive Care Units, Pediatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors