Ugeskrift for laeger
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Cardio-thoracic intensive care units primarily receive patients for recovery following cardio-thoracic surgery. Approximately 70% of the patients belong to this category. 18% are patients who are admitted or readmitted directly. Transplantations, pulmonary endarterectomy, congenital heart diseases and therapeutic hypothermia patients are a small group (12%) but make up a large part of the activity because of their extended length of stay. The use of ventricular assist devices and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation are both important in the future management of cardio-ventilatory recovery.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Feb 2007
Comparative Study[Capacity problems in Danish intensive care units?].
There are documented capacity problems in Danish ICUs. The indications for intensive care have increased in the last decade without any increase in the number of ICU beds. ⋯ Possible solutions: 1) an increase in the number of ICU beds, 2) re-organization of Danish ICUs into larger units and 3) creation of "step-down"-units. Intensive care is a costly area in the healthcare system, where there must be distinct guidelines for visitation and use of expensive medicine and advanced technology.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Feb 2007
Comparative Study[Diagnosis Related Groups in intensive care units--cost model for critically ill patients].
The actual contribution of intensive care to total hospital costs in Denmark has yet not been completely identified. In order to adapt the DRG system to better reflect the actual costs of the intensive care units (ICUs) the original primarily diagnosis-based DRG system was modified in order to be based on ICU-related procedure codes. A new DRG system for ICU patients was developed and implemented in 2004. ⋯ As a result there has since been a qualitative improvement in the documentation of the activities in the ICUs. The information categorized according to the new ICU DRG-groups allows for better differentiation of patients, and might lead to an increasing understanding of the quality of healthcare provision in the ICU by the use of comparisons in a database. A meaningful cost comparison between intensive care units can only be made by combining activity with quality of delivered care.
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Ugeskrift for laeger · Feb 2007
[What is intensive care medicine? Multidisciplinary intensive care units].
Intensive care medicine is described from a multidisciplinary point of view. The term "multidisciplinary" is used, although "multispeciality" may be more appropriate. ⋯ Intensive care medicine is conducted in the high-technology environment of intensive care units. These are further classified according to their own competency base as well as the level of the hospital in which they are situated.
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The neurointensive care unit provides observation and treatment of acute, life-threatening disorders of and injuries to the central and peripheral nervous system. The primary aim of care is the prevention of secondary neuronal damage; this requires a highly multidisciplinary approach, involving neuromonitoring as well as management of systemic comorbidity and complications. This article presents major pathophysiological issues specific to neurointensive care, as well as recent advances in the management of the critically-ill neurosurgical and neurological patient.