Abstract
BACKGROUND: Consensus Guidelines for Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs) were published in Indian Pediatrics in 2002. OBJECTIVE: The current document represents a recent update in the Indian context, regarding unit design, equipment, organization, staffing as well as admission and discharge criteria for different levels of Pediatric Intensive Care and teaching units with PICU training programs, as well as nonteaching units. PROCESS: The Pediatric Intensive Care College Council (PICC), an academic wing of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) Intensive Care Chapter took the initiative to update the guidelines with members of the PICU guidelines Committee writing group. After a great deal of discussion at conferences and through mailing and feedback with listed members, as well as with the guidance and feedback of senior PICU guidelines advisory committee members, The consensus is now updated. These guidelines are intended to serve as a reference for health Care institutions wishing to establish a new PICU or to modify an existing PICU. As a resource, experience of those members who have worked extensively in western PICUs was also taken into consideration, in addition to published guidelines in the medical literature. PICUs with teaching programs run by the IAP Intensive Care Chapter must follow these criteria for unit accreditation and teaching curricula as applicable. RECOMMENDATIONS: Unit design, equipment, organization, staffing as well as admission and discharge criteria for different levels of pediatric intensive care are updated.