Comparison Between Medical and Surgical Intensive Care Unit-A Ten-Year Review of The Management of Patients in A Resource-Poor Setting in The Niger-Delta Region of Nigeria

Purpose: To compare the outcome of patients admitted to the ICU with Medical diagnoses against those with Surgical diagnoses. Methodology: This is a ten-year retrospective study conducted at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital. Ethical approval for the study was sought and gotten from the hospital's ethical committee. The information gotten includes history, age, sex, diagnosis, length of admission, and outcome. The data collected was analyzed and presented in tables and charts. Findings: Three-quarters of the patients admitted to the ICU had surgical diagnoses. More patients with Medical diagnoses (102,19.7%) were discharged from the ICU compared to patients with surgical diagnoses (78,5%). More patients with Surgical diagnosis (919, 52.9%) were transferred out compared to patients with Medical diagnosis (140,27.1%). Patients admitted with medical diagnosis tend to be older and paid more and stayed longer in the ICU compared to patients with surgical diagnosis and this was statistically significant. Three-quarters of the patients admitted to the ICU have surgical diagnoses. More patients with medical diagnoses died in the ICU. Patients with medical diagnoses were older, stayed longer, and paid more for their ICU admission than surgical patients. Unique contribution to theory, policy and practice: More patients with medical diagnoses died in the ICU. Hence the need for proper management of common medical ailments.