Prioritization of ICU beds with renal replacement therapy support by court order and mortality in a Brazilian metropolitan area.

The shortage of intensive care unit (ICU) resources, including equipment and supplies for renal replacement therapy (RRT), is a critical problem in several countries. This study aimed to assess hospital mortality and associated factors in patients treated in public hospitals of the Federal District, Brazil, who requested admission to ICU with renal replacement therapy support (ICU-RRT) in court. Retrospective cohort study that included 883 adult patients treated in public hospitals of the Federal District who requested ICU-RRT admission in court from January 2017 to December 2018.

Intensive Care Unit prioritization: The impact of ICU bed availability on mortality in critically ill patients who requested ICU admission in court in a Brazilian cohort.

Purpose: To assess hospital mortality in patients who requested ICU admission in court due to the scarcity of ICU beds in the Brazilian public health system and the consequences of these judicial litigations.

Material And Methods: Retrospective cohort study that included adult patients from the public health system of the Federal District, Brazil, who claimed ICU admission in court from January 2017 to December 2019.

Results: Of the 1752 patients, 1031 were admitted to ICU (58.