Discharge Decision-Making by Intensivists on Readmission to the Intensive Care Unit

Patients readmitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) have a significantly higher mortality rate. The role of intensivists in judging when to discharge patients from the ICU is very important. We undertook this study to evaluate the effect of the intensivists' discharge decision-making on readmission to ICU. The intensivists actively participated in the discharge decision-making, with the discharge guideline taken into consideration, in respect of group 1 patients, but not in respect of group 2. The readmission rate in group 1 was lower than that in group 2. The readmission in patients in each group was associated with higher mortality rates and longer lengths of stay at the ICU. Respiratory failure was the major cause of readmission. In the non-survivors out of the readmitted patients, the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III scores on the initial discharge and readmission, the multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) scores on the initial admission, discharge and readmission were higher than the corresponding indices in the survivors. We conclude that the readmission rate was lower when intensivists participated in the discharge decision-making, and that APACHE III and MODS scores on the first discharge and readmission were significant prognostic factors in respect of the readmitted patients.

The Effect of Discharge Decision-Making of the Intensivist on Readmission to the Intensive Care Unit / 대한구급학회지

BACKGROUND: Patients readmitted to intensive care unit (ICU) have significantly higher mortality. The role of intensivists to judge when to discharge from ICU may be important. We performed this study to assess the effect of intensivist's discharge decision-making on readmission to ICU. METHODS: Data were collected prospectively from patients admitted to ICUs (group 1). Another data were collected retrospectively from the patients' record (group 2). Discharge of the patients in group 1 were based on intensivist's discharge decision-making but not in group 2. We encouraged deep breathing and expectoration to patients of group 1 at risk of pulmonary complication during ICU stay and used a guideline for making discharge decisions. Readmission cause, length of ICU stay, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) III score, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) score of readmitted patients were evaluated. RESULTS: Readmission rate of group 1 was lower than that of group 2 (p<0.05). The mortality of readmitted patients in each group was higher than that of non-readmitted patients (p<0.05). Respiratory disease was the major cause of readmission. In non-survivors of readmitted patients, APACHE III score on initial discharge and readmission, MODS score on initial admission, discharge and readmission were higher than those of survivors (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Readmission rate was lower when intensivists participated in discharge decision- making. ICU readmission was associated with higher hospital mortality and longer ICU stay. MODS and APACHE III score at first discharge and readmission were significant prognostic factors of the outcome in readmitted patients.