ABSTRACT
Background: It is not clear if the modality of patient admission into the Intensive Care Unit influences outcome. The Intensive Care Unit was audited to determine the pattern of admission; course of illness and management outcome. Methods: In a retrospective study covering the period January 1; 1994 to December 31; 2003; the master register of the Intensive Care Unit was examined. Parameters studied included demographic characteristics; diagnosis necessitating admission to intensive care unit; management; duration of stay in the unit and outcome. Results: There were 243 (57.6) unanticipated admissions and 179 (42.4) elective admissions within the period of study. The unanticipated admissions were more likely to be postsurgical than medical patients. (p 0.01). There was a significantly higher mortality rate for unanticipated admissions (37) than for elective admissions (17.3)(p