Declining Mortality of Cirrhotic Variceal Bleeding Requiring Admission to Intensive Care: A Binational Cohort Study*

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to describe changes over time in admissions and outcomes, including length of stay, discharge destinations, and mortality of cirrhotic patients admitted to the ICU for variceal bleeding, and to compare it to the outcomes of those with other causes of ICU admissions. DESIGN: Retrospective analysis of data captured prospectively in the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society Centre for Outcome and Resource Evaluation Adult Patient Database. SETTINGS: One hundred eighty-three ICUs in Australia and New Zealand. PATIENTS: Consecutive admissions to these ICUs for upper gastrointestinal bleeding related to varices in patients with cirrhosis between January 1, 2005, an..