Causes of death and determinants of outcome in critically ill patients

Table 1 Study definitions

Obesity	Body mass index >30 kg/m² [17]
Massive transfusion	Replacement of one blood mass within 24 hours or need for transfusion of four red cell concentrates within one hour [18]
SIRS, sepsis, and septic shock	Definitions according to standard recommendations [19]
ARDS	Acute deterioration of gas exchange (PaO₂/FiO₂ ratio <200), bilateral infiltrates on the chest x-ray, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure <18 mmHg [20]
Partial respiratory insufficiency	PaO₂ <60 mmHg in the extubated spontaneously breathing patient with or without oxygen
Global respiratory insufficiency	PaO₂ <60 mmHg and PaCO₂ >60 mmHg in the extubated spontaneously breathing patient with or without oxygen
Causes of death^a
Cardiovascular failure	According to the MODS score given in the Appendix
Irreversible cardiovascular failure	Death in pharmacologically uncontrollable hypotension (MAP <60 mmHg)
Acute, refractory MODS	Death from severe MODS (>four failing organs), MAP >60 mmHg, metabolic derangement (for example, lactic acidosis with arterial lactate concentrations >100 mg/dl)
Chronic, refractory MODS	Death from a secondary complication leading to MODS in the state of chronic critical illness
Chronic critical illness	Period after tracheotomy has been performed on the ICU because of long-term ventilation (>7 to 12 days) [21]

^a Any other cause of death in the ICU, in the hospital after discharge from the ICU, and within one year after admission to the ICU was defined and grouped according to the ICD-10 code [16]. ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome; FiO₂, inspiratory oxygen concentration; ICD-10, International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems; ICU, intensive care unit; MAP, mean arterial blood pressure; MODS, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome; PaCO₂, partial arterial carbon dioxide pressure; PaO₂, partial arterial oxygen pressure; SIRS, systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

ISSN: 1364-8535