Sequential organ scoring as a measure of effectiveness of critical care

We performed an observational nonrandomised study in a critical care unit o f a large district general hospital in England to establish whether sequent ial organ scoring could be used as a measure of effectiveness of intensive care. The degree of organ dysfunction of 75 consecutive patients admitted t o the critical care unit whose duration of stay exceeded 48 h was measured using the Logistic Organ Dysfunction System score. The trends in organ dysf unction of survivors and non-survivors were significantly different with fu nction improving in survivors and remaining constant or worsening in non-su rvivors. In both groups, the degree of organ dysfunction decreased over the first three days of intensive care. On an individual patient basis, we ach ieved no change or an improvement in organ score over this period in 80% of patients. In terms of individual organ function, intensive care consistent ly improved scores relating to the cardiovascular, respiratory and renal sy stems over the first 72 h of care, but not the neurological, hepatic or hae matological systems. In conclusion, daily organ scoring usefully reflects t he ability of an intensive care unit to stabilise or reverse physiological dysfunction.