Performance of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
The majority of studies performed in PICUs are from Western countries, leaving a lack of studies in PICUs in developing countries, such as Suriname. Formerly, critically ill children were treated in Suriname’s only adult intensive care unit, where no specific pediatric expertise exists for their treatment, while critically ill children below the age of three months were often admitted to the NICU. In 2015 the APCS developed and built a four-bed PICU, imbedded in the Staatsolie NICU/PICU center that opened its doors officially in February 2016. The PICU became fully operational in 2017. The development of the new PICU was urgent because the estimated mortality rate in children is high in Suriname. Exact data on mortality and morbidity of children older than five living in Suriname is virtually absent, which emphasizes the need for better registration.
This project is designed to collect detailed data on characteristics, morbidity, and mortality of critically ill children treated at the PICU in its first year between November 2017 and now. In addition, we will analyze referral patterns of children from pediatric departments of other hospitals and health care centers in the country. Altogether these data will help to benchmark the tertiary function of the PICU and its performance in Suriname and to enable future registration and analysis of critically ill children in Suriname. Currently, we are using Kobo Toolbox to monitor PICU performance. Data entry is funded by P.R.E.S.
