KUMJ | VOL. 23 | NO. 5 | ISSUE 93 | DECEMBER, 2026

Characteristics of Critical Illness and Short Term Outcome of Adolescents Admitted to Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Dhulikhel Hospital, Kathmandu University Hospital
Poudyal P, Karki R, Bhandari PR, Kushwaha DK

Abstract:
Background Adolescents constitute a distinct cohort within pediatric critical care and delineating the trajectories of critical illness and outcomes in this age group is pivotal for optimization of intensive care management and resource allocation. However, data on adolescents admissions to intensive care units in Nepal remain sparse. Objective To elucidate clinical features, therapeutic interventions and short term outcomes of adolescents requiring intensive care management at Dhulikhel Hospital. Method Retrospective observational study was conducted in patients aged 10 to 17 years admitted to intensive care unit and high dependency unit of Paediatrics Department at Dhulikhel Hospital from January 2023 to December 2024. Data were retrieved using register entries and electronic medical records and retrospectively collated the data in a password protected Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed descriptively in Stata 13. Result Among 127 patients admitted between 1st January 2023 to 31st December 2024, mean age group was 13.9 ± 1.79 years. The male to female ratio was 1.08 : 1 with male preponderance (51.97%). In the intensive care unit, Poisoning cases constituted the highest proportion of admissions (29.31%) and respiratory causes (24.63%) predominated admission in high dependency unit. The majority of cases attained successful discharge after treatment in intensive care unit and ward (82.76% from intensive care unit and 88.40% from high dependency unit). Unfortunately, one patient (0.78%) expired after four days of intensive care management. Conclusion The study underscores the need of early intervention, preventive care and targeted health education during adolescence so as to mitigate preventable causes of critical care admission.
Keyword : Adolescents, Critical care, Intensive care, Paediatrics