Trauma admissions at the intermediate and intensive care unit
| IMCU | ICU | |
| Total admission, n | n=675 | n=645 |
| Admission characteristics | ||
| Admission duration, median (IQR) | 32.8 [18.8–62.5] | 46.7 [16.8–155.5] |
| Admissions <72 h, n (%) | 544 (80.6) | 380 (59.2%)* |
| Transfer characteristics | ||
| Hospital ward, n (%) | 592 (87.7) | 225 (34.9%) |
| Intermediate care unit, n (%) | – | 324 (50.4%) |
| Intensive care unit, n (%) | 38 (5.6) | – |
| Home, n (%) | 44 (6.5) | – |
| Death at the hospital unit, n (%) | 1 (0.1) | 95 (14.8%) |
| Indication ICU admission | ||
| Mechanical ventilation, n (%) | – | 620 (96.3%) |
| No mechanical ventilation, n (%) | – | 24 (3.7%) |
| Risk of intubation due to head injury | – | 5 (0.8%) |
| Risk of intubation due to airway obstruction | – | 3 (0.5%) |
| Risk of pulmonary deterioration | – | 3 (0.5%) |
| Hemodynamic monitoring for bleeding or cardiac contusion | – | 7 (1.1%) |
| Exchange bed (IMCU full)* | – | 6 (0.9%) |
| Indication ICU transfer | ||
| Postoperative after neurosurgical decompression, n (%) | 9 (1.3) | – |
| Postoperative after rib fixation, n (%) | 4 (0.6) | – |
| Postoperative after other operations†, n (%) | 7 (1.0) | – |
| Intubation due to respiratory deterioration, n (%) | 7 (1.0) | – |
| Intubation due to sepsis, n (%) | 2 (0.3) | – |
| Intubation for other reasons‡, n (%) | 6 (0.9) | – |
| Respiratory support with non-invasive ventilation, n (%) | 2 (0.3) | – |
| Multiple vasopressive medication, n (%) | 1 (0.1) | – |
| In-hospital mortality, n (%) | 23 (3.4) | 134 (20.8%) |
The numbers presented are the indications, admission and transfer characteristics of intermediate care unit and intensive care unit admissions after sustained trauma.
*The exchange patients were admitted for other non-surgical disciplines due to full occupancy of their IMCU.
†Cholecystectomy due to perforated gallbladder, stabilization of the spine, thoracotomy, pelvic fixation, femoral nail placement.
‡Atrial flutter, Guillain-Barré syndrome, combined respiratory and neurological deterioration, sedation to reduce the ICP, epileptic insult.
ICU, intensive care unit; IMCU, intermediate care unit.