The Intensive Care Unit (ICU), also referred to as a critical care unit, is a special department in the hospital that provides care for the sickest patients.
Which patients are sent to the ICU? Patients that are critically ill and require advance life sustaining therapies such as: mechanical ventilation, continuous renal replacement therapy (a form of dialysis), and infusion/titration of medications to sustain heart function and vital organ perfusion.
Are all ICUs the same? No! Small hospitals may have only one ICU that takes care of all critically ill patients. Larger hospitals may have several specialized ICUs that each focus on a specific type of illness.
Some examples include:
– Cardiac ICUs which focus on patients with heart attacks and heart surgeries.
– Surgical ICUs which focus on patients recovering from complicated surgeries.
– Burn ICUs which focus on patients with burn injuries.
– Neuro-trauma ICUs which focus on patients with strokes or traumatic brain injuries.
– Medical ICUs (most common) which focus on wide range of medical problems.
The COVID-19 pandemic has seen ICUs across the world functioning at greater than maximum capacity.
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