Guidelines for intensive care unit admission, discharge, and triage. Task Force of the American College of Critical Care Medicine, Society of Critical Care Medicine.

OBJECTIVE

To provide guidelines for admission, discharge, and triage of adult patients to the intensive care unit (ICU), based on expert opinion and the relevant literature.

DATA SOURCES

Publications relevant to the admission, discharge, and triage of patients to the ICU were obtained from the medical literature.

STUDY SELECTION

Not applicable.

DATA EXTRACTION

Articles were reviewed and the relevant information extracted for analysis by an expert panel.

DATA SYNTHESIS

The articles were reviewed and graded levels of recommendation made based on a rating system described in the text.

CONCLUSIONS

Although little scientifically rigorous data exist validating the criteria for admission, discharge, and triage of adult patients to the ICU, current literature and expert opinion support guidelines to streamline the admission, discharge, and triage process.