Critical Care & ICU

Critical care and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are specialized medical services that focus on the treatment and management of critically ill patients.

Critical Care:

Critical care medicine, often referred to simply as critical care, is a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and management of life-threatening conditions requiring intensive medical intervention. Critical care physicians, also known as intensivists, are specially trained to care for patients with severe injuries, acute illnesses, or complications from surgeries.

Patients who require critical care may have conditions such as severe infections (sepsis), respiratory failure, shock, major trauma, acute heart failure, or complications from major surgeries. Critical care teams work collaboratively to provide timely and comprehensive care, often in specialized units such as the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

The Intensive Care Unit is a specialized hospital department dedicated to providing intensive monitoring and treatment for critically ill patients. ICUs are equipped with advanced medical equipment, including ventilators, cardiac monitors, infusion pumps, and dialysis machines, to support patients with life-threatening conditions.

ICU patients require close monitoring and specialized care around the clock, typically with a high nurse-to-patient ratio and constant supervision by critical care physicians or intensivists. The ICU team may also include respiratory therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists, physical therapists, and other healthcare professionals.

Patients in the ICU may be admitted for various reasons, including post-operative care following major surgeries, treatment for severe infections or sepsis, management of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), monitoring after major trauma or cardiac events, or support during organ failure.