Table 3 'Ideal' descriptors of organ dysfunction in ICU patients

Routinely available in all ICUs

Reliable (intra and inter-observer)

Objective (that is, observer independent)

Specific to the function of the organ in question

Therapy independent

Sequential (available at ICU admission or shortly thereafter and then at fixed periods of time)

Not affected by transient, reversible abnormalities associated with therapeutic or practical interventions

Reflect acute dysfunction of the organ in question but not chronic dysfunction

Reproducible in large, heterogeneous groups of ICU patients

Reproducible in several types of ICUs from different regions of the globe

Abnormal in one direction only

Using continuous rather than dichotomous variables