Objective: To describe patient characteristics, admission and outcome patterns in children managed at a paediatric intensive care unit(PICU). Design, Setting and Patients: A retrospective study conducted at PICU at Elkhadra Hospital which is six-bedded unit, it admits neonates and children (from birth to 15 years). Medical records of admissions, between January 2002 and December 2006 regarding admitting diagnosis, mortality rate, age, gender and status at referral were reviewed. Results: During the period 1503 patients were admitted, 856 neonates and 647 children. The total number of deaths was 136 patients (9%), (71 neonates & 65 children). The most common clinical cause of admission was respiratory disorder (27%), followed by sepsis (14%), gastrointestinal disorders (14%), neurological disorders(11%), cardiovascular disorders(7%),congenital anomalies (6%), surgery (4%), inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) (3%),poisoning (2.9%) and other (14%). The main cause of death among the total admissions was congenital anomalies (38%) followed by (IEM) (36%) and sepsis (10.6%). Of the total admissions, 244 patients (16%) were referred from other hospitals, of which (15%) died, and (84%) came from the community, of which (8%) died. Death amongst referred patients was significantly higher than community deaths (P<0.05). Conclusion: IEM are increasingly being identified and are responsible for a significant mortality rise. These patients require significant resources and specific, specialized expertise. To improve paediatric survival in the referred patients; an effective transport system, and regional organization of paediatric and neonatal patients should be available.
