Department of Pediatrics Erciyes University Medical Faculty, Kayseri, Turkey

Purpose: To assess the profile, outcome and factors affecting prognosis of children admitted to Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Material and Methods: A retrospective study was undertaken of 282 children admitted to PICU. Demographics, clinical and laboratory findings, pediatric risk of mortality score, complications, nosocomial infections and causes of mortality of all patients were documented. Results: The mean age and average length of PICU were 2 years (range 1 month-19 years) and 2 days (2,5 hours-145 days), respectively. Infections, especially pneumonia, were major cause of admission of PICU. There was chronic disease in 47 % of patients. Mean PRISM III score on admission was 11,9 ± 8,2. At the follow-up period, nosocomial infections were seen in 74 patients and ventilator associated pneumonia was detected 25 % of mechanical ventilated patients. Mortality was seen 18 % of patients. The major causes of mortality were lung diseases. The length of PICU days, duration of ventilation, acute renal failure, PRISM III score, hematological and cardiac abnormalities, and infections in nonsurvivor patients were statistical significantly higher than survivor patients. Conclusion: This study showed that PRISM III score and systemic problems on follow-up could affect PICU mortality and that nosocomial infections were quite high and that pulmonary diseases were major cause of mortality.