Sepsis mortality and ICU length of stay after the implementation of an intensive care team in the emergency department

Abstract

Emergency department patient boarding is associated with hospital mortality and increased hospital length of stay. The objective of the present study is to describe the impact of deploying an Intensive Care team in the ED and its association with sepsis mortality and ICU length of stay. Patients admitted to ICU through the ED with an ICD-10 CM diagnosis of sepsis were included. Preintervention and postintervention phases included 4 and 15 months, respectively. Sepsis time zero, SEP-1 compliance, and lag time from time zero to antibiotic administration were compared. Outcomes of interest were mortality and ICU LOS. 1021 septic patients were included. Sixty-six percent fulfilled compliance with 3 h SEP-1 bundle. Lag time from time zero to antibiotic administration was 75 min. Multivariate analysis showed no association between ICU team in the ED and hospital mortality (Log OR 0.94, CI 0.67–1.34; p = 0.73). The ICU team in the ED was associated with prolonged ICU LOS (Log OR 1.21, CI 1.13–1.30; p < 0.01). Septic shock and ED boarding time were associated with prolonged ICU LOS. Compliance with SEP-1 bundle was associated with its reduction. Implementation of an ICU team in the ED for the treatment of septic patients during high volume hospitalizations is not associated with a reduction of mortality or ICU LOS.