ABSTRACT
Background. Critically ill children are often managed in non-tertiary general intensive care units admitting both adults and children; but few data are currently available regarding paediatric outcomes in these general units.Objective. To determine the outcome of critically ill neonates and children admitted to a general high-care unit in a large regional hospital in the Western Cape; South Africa.Methods. This was a retrospective descriptive analysis of outcome of all neonatal and paediatric (13 years of age) patients admitted with non-surgical disease; during a 1-year period; to a general high-care unit at a large regional hospital in Worcester; South Africa. Data included demography; admission time; length of stay; diagnoses; HIV status; therapeutic interventions and outcome. The primary outcome was defined as successful discharge; transfer to a central hospital or death.Results. There were 185 admissions; with the majority (83%) 12 months of age (median age 3.7 months; range 0 - 151 months) and a male:female ratio of 1.3:1. The majority (70%) were successfully discharged; while 24% were transferred to a tertiary paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and only 6% died. Causes of death included acute lower respiratory tract infections (33%); acute gastroenteritis (33%); birth asphyxia (16%) and complications of prematurity (16%). Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (p0.001); ventilation (p0.001) and HIV infection (p