Introduction:

Intensive Care Units provide care to patients with clinical conditions that put their lives in danger or with potential to it. Therefore, highly specialized personnel, equipment and medicines are required; which generates high expenses.

Objective:

Describe the costs of care for critical patients treated in the Intensive Care Unit.

Methods:

A partial economic evaluation study of cost description was conducted. The overall sample was made up of 455 patients; a sample of 155 was selected by a simple random sampling. Data collection was carried out through the cost records of the Department of Accounting and Statistics, medical histories, card and cost sheet.

Results:

Daily costs per patient were 656.76 CUP. The radiology department was the one with the highest charges (23069.88 CUP), the most indicated complementary test was the blood count (883). Deep vein catheters were the most used instruments and generated a total expenditure of 144.26 CUP. Electrolytes and antimicrobials were the drug groups that generated the highest costs (49133.95 and 24896.08 CUP, respectively). Hemodialysis generated an expense of 142 441 CUP.

Conclusions:

Imaging and laboratory studies necessary for diagnosis and follow-up, as well as the use of antimicrobials, electrolytes and equipment and procedures for the care of the critically ill patient present high costs.

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