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ICU
The fundamental support system in critical care, the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at SKH provides efficient, dedicated, high-quality evidence-based care to critically ill patients through a collaborative multi-disciplinary approach. The ICUs, are equipped with state-of-the-art clinical support and manned by highly trained doctors, and ancillary staff, that are capable of handling patients with a wide range of chronic medical complications. The unit is fully equipped with facilities for bedside and central monitoring of ECG, blood oxygen, blood pressure, venous pressure, etc
The services provided by the ICU include:
- Critical care services to patients of all age groups ranging from children to the elderly.
- Full hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation, and therapy with vasoactive agents, for hemodynamically unstable patients.
- Renal support and bedside tracheotomy.
- Respiratory therapy for both adult and pediatric patients.
- The Cardiology section provides support to Coronary Care patients.
- Support the hospital CPR team, and Poly Trauma team and respond to major disaster calls.
- Provide immediate medical care for stroke patients.
- The intensive care units with their different sections are well-staffed by well-trained physicians and nurses to look after acutely ill patients. The unit is located on the first floor of the hospital building.
- The Intensive Care Unit is managing cases with polytrauma, cardiac diseases, and patients with multiorgan dysfunction. The unit is covered with well-trained consultants, trained specialists, and well-trained ICU nurses.
What is an intensive care unit (ICU)?
An ICU is a part of a hospital that gives care to people who are critically ill. Patients in the ICU have serious health issues that can be life-threatening. They might:
- have a serious injury
- have a serious illness
- be recovering from major surgery
In the ICU, patients are closely monitored at all times, 24 hours a day, by teams of specialist health practitioners.
The ICU is different from other hospital wards in that:
- there are fewer beds
- each bed has lots of equipment needed to care for very sick patients
- fewer visitors are allowed
- there are fewer patients for each nurse to look after — often there is one nurse for every 1 or 2 patients
In the ICU, patients may need to have life-support. This is needed when a major organ such as the heart or lungs needs help to work properly.
Why are people admitted to the ICU?
You are likely to be admitted to an ICU if you:
- are in a critical condition
- need specialised care
- need to be watched closely at all times
Why are people admitted to the ICU?
The ICU can feel like a daunting place for both for you and your visitors. This can be due to the lines, tubes, wires and monitoring equipment at the bedside.
ICU patients can be connected to different machines. The most common machines are heart monitors and artificial ventilators. An artificial ventilator is needed when you can’t breathe for yourself.
Many ICU machines beep and make loud noises and alarms. These noises are important because they let staff know if your condition changes.
You may have several tubes going into or out of your body. These tubes give fluid and nutrients to you and get rid of waste fluids.
There are many medical staff in the ICU. Each patient usually has a dedicated specialist nurse. This nurse regularly checks the equipment and any life support systems.
The ICU healthcare team understands how distressing the ICU can be. The staff are available to support your close family.
Contagious diseases
If you have a contagious disease, you need to be cared for in a separate part of the ICU. This is called ‘isolation’.
In the isolation section of the ICU, extra precautions are taken by staff to keep infections under control. It’s important to stop germs infecting staff or other patients in the ICU.
Isolation can also be needed if you have an infection that is hard to treat. This sometimes happens when germs become resistant to antibiotics.
