Siddiqui, N.1; Haque, A.1; Abbas, Q.1; Kumar, R.1; Shabbir, A.1
doi: 10.1097/01.pcc.0000449089.57523.e6
Abstracts of the 7th World Congress on Pediatric Critical Care
Background and aims: Neurological critical illnesses are more common cause of death, with higher morbidity and longer hospital length of stay. They are more likely to be admitted in Intensive Care Unit with more resource utilization. Many such illnesses are treatable.
Aims: To estimate the burden of neurological illness in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and see the associated mortality.
Methods: Retrospective review of records of children (1 mo-16 years) with a neurological morbidity admitted in PICU of our tertiary care hospital from January 2008 to December 2011 was done.
Results: Of 1192 patients admitted, for reasons other than cardiac surgery, 232 (19%) had neurological illness. Of these, 138 (59%) were males. Diagnosis included CNS infection (25.5%), traumatic brain injury (21%), encephalopathy (20%), neuromuscular diseases (11%), two had stroke, and six had congenital/degenerative diseases.
Conclusions: Neurological illnesses are very common in PICU, associated with high mortality. The high number of treatable causes has public health implications.
