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. 1994 Jan;76(1):9–13.

Evolving role of intensive and high-dependency care.

D Nehra 1, M K Crumplin 1, A Valijan 1, A E Edwards 1
PMCID: PMC2502180  PMID: 8117031

Abstract

As stratified patient care evolves, and with an increasing population of elderly patients undergoing major surgery there is a growing demand for critical and high-dependency care beds. Results of an audit comparing the activity of a combined Intensive Care and High-Dependency Unit (ITU/HDU) in 1981 with 1991 has shown an increase in the number of patients admitted, particularly for high-dependency care. The overall mortality in 1981 was 12% compared with 9.5% in 1991. The greatest improvement was seen in ventilated patients, where the mortality was reduced from 54% in 1981 to 30% in 1991. An attempt is made to predict the demand for critical care and high-dependency beds for the future in a population of approximately 250,000 based on current trends. It is perceived that it will be necessary to establish a six-bed ITU and eight high-dependency surgical beds in two separate but adjacent units, where there will be a free interchange of skills at the different levels of care.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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