• J Vega, R A Karlezi, and S Gálvez.
• Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Gustavo Fricke, Viña del Mar, Chile.
• Rev Med Chil. 1990 Jun 1; 118 (6): 643-8.

AbstractHospitalization of a patient in critical care unit for over a month is exceptional and often raises the question of an irreversible disease process. From 2715 consecutive patients admitted to an intensive care unit in the last 4 years we identified 20 patients remaining in the unit for over a month. Acute pancreatitis and septic abortion were the most common diagnosis at admission. Overall mortality in this series was 30%. None of the complications developing or the therapeutic procedures used in the first 3 weeks predicted the outcome. In contrast, the presence of respiratory failure, septic shock, requirement of ventilation or parenteral nutrition at day 30 was highly associated with mortality.

14 keywords...

hide…