Iden et al reported indications for admitting a postoperative patient to the intensive care unit (ICU). The authors are from University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel University and Friedrich-Ebert Hospital in Germany.
Patient selection: adult after noncardiac surgery
Indications for ICU admission may include:
(1) hemodynamic instability (need for vasopressors, etc)
(2) re-intubation or respiratory instability
(3) massive intraoperative bleeding
(4) new, severe cardiac arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia, other)
(5) severe illness prior to surgery (severe heart failure, myasthenia, ASA V)
(6) high-risk surgery (liver transplantation, other)
(7) delirium or other alteration in consciousness
(8) hypothermia (body core temperature < 36°C
(9) complex nursing requirements (immobility, etc)
