• Martine D Nipshagen, Kees H Polderman, Dennis DeVictor, and Reinoud J B J Gemke.
• Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Vrije Universiteit Medical center, PO Box 7057, 1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
• Intensive Care Med. 2002 Dec 1; 28 (12): 1797-803.

ObjectiveTo assess and compare the structure, organisation, management, and staffing in different paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in Europe.DesignDescriptive study.SettingA questionnaire was sent to physicians in PICUs. Physician's names were obtained from the membership list of the European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care.InterventionsNone.ParticipantsPhysicians from 92 European PICUs.Measurements And Main ResultsResponses were obtained from 92 PICUs (60% of those surveyed, 64% of hospitals with PICUs). A blank response was obtained in <2% of the questions. Considerable diversity in structure, organisation, staffing, and management in European PICUs was found. Significant differences were observed in unit size, which ranged from 2-56 (average: 8-10) beds/unit. In several--predominantly German-speaking--countries paediatric and neonatal intensive care beds are frequently combined in single units. Most European PICUs (98%) had at least part-time coverage by a paediatric intensivist; 78% had 24-h intensivist coverage. Specialized PICU nurses were present in 98% of European PICUs, and most (75%) had 24-h physician coverage by a physician with no responsibilities outside the PICU.ConclusionsData obtained in our survey demonstrate the substantial structural, organisational management, and staff diversity of paediatric ICUs. Most European PICUs employ specialized PICU nurses and have at least part time coverage by paediatric intensivists.

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