Özet:

Background/Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effects of the type of admission (ambulance/outpatient clinic) and telemedicine use in patients admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Material and Methods: A retrospective observational study designed in a referral PICU between January 2019 and December 2021. Demographic characteristics, type of admission (ambulance/outpatient clinic), the utility of telemedicine, clinical manifestations, and outcomes were recorded. The severity of the disease, complications, and length of stay in the PICU were compared between the groups (ambulance/outpatient and telemedicine applied/none-applied). Results: 144 patients were included in the study. 51.4% of patients were male, and the median age was 13.0 years (range, 2-18 years). 45.1% of patients were transferred to the PICU by ambulance. Ambulance and telemedicine use was higher in newly diagnosed and younger age (p<0.001 and p=0.0014, respectively). Telemedicine was used in 56 (38.8%) patients. There was no significant difference in terms of Glasgow coma scale (13-13/13-13), PRISM III (8-9/9-8), mean HbA1c level (12.2-12.0), and complications (p= 0.35) at the time of admission between the groups that used and did not use ambulance and telemedicine. 66 (45.8%) patients did not develop any complications and there was no mortality in the study. Conclusions: There is not enough data in the literature on the prehospital care of DKA patients admitted to PICU. Although there was no significant difference between prehospital care and outcomes in this study, we think that the low complication rate is related to telemedicine.

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