Table 1.
Physiologic Threshold Criteria Measured on the Medical-Surgical Wards
| Criteria | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Respiratory | ||
| Respiratory rate | >35 breaths/min for >30 min | |
| Arterial blood gas | pH <7.25 | pC02 >60mm/Hg |
| Oxygen saturation | <95% of nonrebreather mask <30 min | |
| Peak flow | <250 L/min | |
| Airway protection | Absent cough, gag or need for artificial airway | |
| Cardiac | ||
| Systolic blood pressure | <85mm/Hg for >30 min | |
| Heart rate (sustained for >30 min) | <40 beats/min | >140 beats/min |
| Urine output | <200 cc/8 h in absence of chronic renal failure | |
| Other | ||
| Gastrointestinal bleeding | Hematocrit <22% | ≥4 units pRBCs transfused in <24 hours |
| Level of consciousness | Glasgow Coma Score <12 | Acute decrease in Glasgow Coma score ≥2 |
| Patient with abdominal pain and >60 years old and either: | WBC <3,000 | WBC >16,000 |
pCO2, partial pressure carbon dioxide; pRBC, packed red blood cells; WBC, white blood cell count.