• Julia Ambuehl, Adrienne Karrer, Andreas Meer, Thomas Riedel, and Andreas Schibler.
• Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Children's Hospital, Inselspital, Bern, Switzerland.
• Swiss Med Wkly. 2007 Jun 2; 137 (21-22): 312-6.

ObjectiveThe mortality rate in paediatric intensive care units (PICU) has fallen over the last two decades. More advanced treatment is offered to children with life-threatening disease and there is substantial interest in knowing whether long term outcome and quality of life after intensive care are acceptable.Setting12-bed paediatric and neonatal intensive care unit.InterventionProspective follow-up study with telephone interview 1 and 2 years after discharge.MethodsFour domains of quality of life (physical function, role function, social-emotional function and health problem) were recorded by calculating the health state classification (HSC) index. Outcome was classified good (HSC 1.0-0.7), moderate (HSC 0.69-0.3), poor (HSC 0.29-0) and very poor (HSC <0).Results661 patients were admitted to the PICU in the year 2001 with a mortality within the unit of 3.9%. Over 2 years follow-up there were 21 additional deaths (3.2%). 574 patients could be followed up after 1 year and 464 patients after 2 years. After two years the outcome was good in 77%, moderate in 15% and poor in 8%. Patients with respiratory disease had the best outcome, similar to those admitted for neurological and medical reasons. Patients admitted for postoperative care and for cardiovascular disease had a poorer quality of life. 31% of the children had preexisting health care problems and 21% of all patients had new chronic disease after intensive care.ConclusionThe majority of survivors admitted to the PICU have a good outcome. The overall mortality rate doubled if assessed two years after discharge.

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