Journal of Clinical Medicine Research, ISSN 1918-3003 print, 1918-3011 online, Open Access
Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, J Clin Med Res and Elmer Press Inc
Journal website http://www.jocmr.org

Original Article

Volume 5, Number 5, October 2013, pages 343-349

Factors Influencing Triage Decisions in Patients Referred for ICU Admission

Table

Table 1. Characteristics of Patients Refused for ICU Admission
 
1) Number of patients94 (56.9%)
2) Location:
  a) OR/PACU9 patients (69.2%)
  b) Surgery ward4 patients (66.6%)
  c) ED60 patients (56.6%)
  d) Medicine ward21 patients (52.5%)
3) Median age: 60 years (range 20 - 97)
  a) 20 - 30 years6 patients (6.4%)
  b) 31 - 40 years8 patients (8.5%)
  c) 41 - 50 years16 patients (17.0%)
  d) 51 - 64 years22 patients (23.4%)
  e) > 65 years42 patients (44.7%)
4) Gender
  Males54 patients (57.4%)
  Females40 patients (42.6%)
5) Active advance directives and/or PCM evaluation or follow up at the time of evaluation13 patients (13.8%)
6) ICU beds available during the study period when these patients were evaluated488 (median 5, range 0 - 9)
7) Diagnosis:
  a) Respiratory failure15 patients
  b) Electrolyte imbalance11 patients
  c) Acute coronary syndrome/congestive heart failure10 patients
  d) Sepsis8 patients
  e) Drug overdose7 patients
  f) Gastrointestinal hemorrhage6 patients
  g) Hypertensive emergency6 patients
  h) Acute kidney injury4 patients
  i) Seizures4 patients
  j) Other23 patients
8) Triage:
  a) Step-down unit77 patients (81.9%)
  b) Medicine wards15 patients (16.0%)
  c) Telemetry unit2 patients (2.1%)
9) APACHE-II score:mean 13.9 (range 0 - 30)
10) Reasons for refusal:
  a) Too well81 patients (86.1%)
  b) Too ill11 patients (11.7%)
  c) Too ill, too old2 patients (2.1%)
11) Mortality12 patients (12.8%)