A review of pediatric admissions and outcomes at the Intensive Care Unit, Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

This was a prospective cross sectional study targeting all pediatric cases admitted to the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) Intensive Care Unit (lCU) within the study period. The study aimed at examining/determining correlates and predictors of outcome. The outcomes were found to be either mortality or discharge to the pediatric or surgical wards. These were then correlated to age, sex, duration of stay in the TCU and organ/system involvement. During the period of study, 100 patients were admitted and followed up. 74% of these were surgical patients. Mortality rate for pediatric patients admitted into the ICU was found to be 38% with the highest mortality rate seen in neonates at 66%. Respiratory system was not only the most commonly affected system, but also showed the worst outcome. Patients with single organ/system involvement had a mortality rate of only 20% whereas those with 3-organ system involvement had a mortality rate of 100%.