Description

Sub optimal ward care is associated with 50% of admissions to ITU in UK hospitals. Sub optimal ward care pre ITU admission is also associated with an increase in both ITU and hospital mortality. A progressive decline in physiological factors is a common factor before in hospital cardiac arrests. Earlier intervention by experienced physicians and nurses with critical care experience may help to stabilise physiological deterioration and thus prevent ITU admissions, cardiac arrests and improve survival of those patients who are admitted to ITU.

Early warning scores help to identify those patients who are at most risk of deterioration and give ward staff guidance when it is appropriate to ask for critical care input. This article outlines the rationale for the use of Early Warning Scoring, particularly in acute surgical wards. Various published early warning scores are presented and compared together with their potential role in the future of critical care.