55th Annual General and Scientific Conference of the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PANCONF), 17th to 19th January 2024

Abstract

ADOLESCENT PAEDIATRICS/COMMUNITY
PAEDIATRICS
PAN-LOS-041
Clinical Profiles of Adolescents Admitted for Intensive Care at the University College Hospital, Ibadan
Fagbohun AO, Idowu OK, Akindolire AE
E-mail: mailyuwa@yahoo.com
Introduction: The adolescent years are considered to be the healthiest period of life. Despite this, adolescents are at risk of critical illnesses and injuries requiring intensive care. The optimal setting for adolescent critical care is still being debated: Adult or Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). In Nigeria, PICU services are limited, thus, critically ill adolescents are managed in adult ICU which is manned by adult intensivists with input from paediatricians. This study was conducted prior to the recent establishment of PICU services in Ibadan.
Aim: To outline the clinical profiles and outcomes of adolescent patients admitted into the adult ICU.
Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out on adolescents admitted over a five-year period (2018 to 2022).
Results: The adolescent population comprised 113 (38.6%) of the total number of children and adolescents admitted. The male and female distribution was 65.5% and 34.5% respectively. The mean age was 14.3±2.8 years. The commonest indication for admission was post-surgical excision of intracranial tumours (22.1%). Meningitis with raised intracranial pressure accounted for 17.7% while haemoglobinopathy with complications (sepsis, acute chest syndrome, shock) constituted 10.6%. The overall mortality rate was 36.3%. while a third of the adolescent population required ventilation. The mortality rate among ventilated patients was 44.1%. Mortality was significantly higher in ventilated than non- ventilated patients (p = 0.006).
Conclusion: The provision of critical care to the adolescent population is important especially amongst those who require ventilatory support as they are at high risk of mortality.