The authors analyzed the work of the metabolic intensive care unit which due to the gastroenterological orientation of the clinic deals increasingly with treatment of patients with serious gastroenterological conditions. Since 1989 995 patients were hospitalized and the ratio of gastroenterological patients increased from 15% in 1990 to 35% in 1993. The most serious course and prognosis is in patients with hepatic failure who accounted for 42% of the total number of gastroenterological patients. Another large group was formed by a total of 46 patients with acute pancreatitis and 40 patients with severe forms of non-specific inflammations of the gut. The metabolic intensive care unit possesses also two artificial kidneys. During the mentioned period a total of 2195 haemodialyses were made, incl. 613 on account of acute renal failure, 53 on account of intoxications and the remainder in chronic renal failure. Forty haemoperfusions were made on account of intoxications. The remainder of the patients suffered as a rule from serious impairment of the milieu intérieur. The authors' experience and data in the literature indicate that care of these patients concentrated in specialized departments with skilled staff and satisfactory technical equipment enhances their hope of survival and improvement of the condition. It is increasingly apparent that the development of specialized intensive care units of the non-coronary type is important.

Keywords: Gastrointestinal Diseases /therapy/; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Metabolic Diseases /therapy/