Treatment of Acute Pulmonary Edema: Conventional or Intensive Care?

Abstract

The experience of adult patients admitted to a general hospital with the diagnosis of acute pulmonary edema was determined for the year before and the year after the opening of an intensive care unit. Comparisons made included hospital mortality, duration of hospitalization, and total hospital charges. Mortality was identical in both groups (8%) and was consistent with the overall hospital mortality for patients admitted with this diagnosis during the preceding 4 years. The duration of hospitalization was 2.3 days longer, and the average hospital bill was 46% greater for patients admitted during the year after than for those admitted the year before the opening of an intensive care unit. The data suggest that the only significant change in the experience of patients hospitalized with acute pulmonary edema since the opening of a unit has been a marked increase in the cost of rendering care to these patients.