RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine whether there there are any associations between time of admission and mortality rates in the pediatric intensive care unit. METHODS: We analyzed retrospectively 210 consecutive admissions to the PICU from November 2005 to April 2006 for patients aged 1 mth to 18 yr. RESULTS: There was no significant difference for overall mortality rates between weekend and weekday admissions (12.2% vs 17.4%, p=0.245), and daytime and evening admissions (11.3 % vs 15.4%, p=0.254). There was also no significant difference between different admission times for within 24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours mortality rates. CONCLUSIONS: In respect of the overall mortality rates, it can be said that in a closed system PICU management under the control of a pediatric intensivist there is no association between time of admission and mortality rates.