Intensive care

Intensive Care is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive treatment medicine. Intensive care units (ICUs) cater to patients with severe and life-threatening illnesses and injuries, which require constant, close monitoring and support from specialist equipment and medications in order to ensure normal bodily functions. They are staffed by highly trained doctors and nurses who specialize in caring for critically ill patients. ICUs are also distinguished from normal hospital wards by a higher staff-to-patient ratio and access to advanced medical resources and equipment that is not routinely available elsewhere.

Types of Intensive Care Units

There are several types of ICUs that cater to specific medical needs:

• Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit
• Coronary Care Unit
• Medical Intensive Care Unit
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Neurological Care Unit
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
• Surgical Intensive Care Unit
• Trauma Intensive Care Unit

Admission to an ICU

Patients are admitted to an ICU for a variety of reasons. This could be due to instability, the need for invasive monitoring, the potential for deterioration, or the need for a higher level of care than can be provided in a less intensive setting.

Care in the ICU

Care in the ICU will often involve medical intervention to stabilize the patient's condition, intensive and constant monitoring, and the use of life support technologies.

Discharge from the ICU

Patients are discharged from the ICU when they no longer need this level of care. This decision is usually made by a team of doctors and healthcare professionals who are experts in the care of critically ill patients.

See Also

• Critical Care Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Hospital Medicine
• Palliative Care

References

Intensive care Resources
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