General characteristics and costs of terminal-stage patients in a medical intensive care unit [Bir dahili yoğun bakım ünitesindeki terminal dönem hastaların genel özellikleri ve maliyetleri]

Objective: the purpose of this study is to determine the general characteristics and costs of terminal-stage patients in a medical intensive care unit (icu). material and methods: eighty-three patients,admitted to a medical icu in a university hospital between january 1,2010 and december 31,2013,were included in the study. general characteristics,intensive care processes,outcomes,and costs of the patients were examined. results: eight percent of patients admitted to the icu during the study period were terminal-stage patients. the median age was 63 years,52% of patients were male,and 77% of patients were terminal-stage cancer patients. despite full support therapy,only 4.8% of the patients were discharged. the median cost was 2841 tl,and the total cost was 581,353.2 tl. conclusion: it is costly to treat terminal-stage patients in acute care centers,as in intensive care units. in our country,it is also necessary to develop a palliative care system for this group of patients. © 2014 aves ibrahim kara. all rights reserved.