Pediatric intensive care unit

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (often abbreviated as PICU) is a specialized department within a hospital that provides comprehensive, continuous care for critically ill infants, children, and teenagers. The PICU is staffed by a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals who are trained in pediatric critical care.

Overview

The PICU is designed to meet the unique physiological and developmental needs of children. It is equipped with advanced medical technology and staffed by healthcare professionals who have specialized training in pediatric critical care. The PICU team includes pediatricians, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, dietitians, and social workers, among others.

Admission to the PICU

Children are typically admitted to the PICU for a variety of reasons, including severe respiratory distress, trauma, sepsis, and after major surgery. The goal of the PICU is to stabilize the child's condition and provide intensive care until the child can be transferred to a less intensive level of care.

Care in the PICU

The care provided in the PICU is comprehensive and continuous. This includes monitoring of vital signs, administration of medication, provision of nutrition, and support for the child's emotional and developmental needs. The PICU team works closely with the child's family to provide family-centered care.

Challenges and Ethical Considerations

The PICU environment can be stressful for both the child and the family. Ethical considerations, such as decisions about end-of-life care, can also arise in the PICU. The PICU team works to support the child and the family through these challenges, and to provide care that is in the best interest of the child.

See Also

• Intensive Care Unit
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• Pediatrics
• Critical Care Medicine