Introduction
Critical care units are also called intensive care units (ICU). They are used to treat critically ill patients, who require constant close supervision of the medical staff and life support equipment to ensure their bodily function. This topic explains critical care units, different categories of critical care units, and their requirements.
What Is a Critical Care Unit?
The critical care unit is the specialized unit that treats an unwell patient who requires immediate medical attention with special life support equipment. It can also be called an ICU (intensive care unit). The patient is transferred to the critical care unit in an emergency case or on a doctor's recommendation. It is a separate unit with a medical facility equipped with specially designed facilities to monitor the patient closely. Patient with life-threatening conditions is treated and managed there. It aims to prevent the patient's mortality and maintain the patient's vital functioning.
Who Requires a Critical Care Unit?
A patient who has surgery, an emergency case of an accident, or any critical condition that is deteriorating the patient's health requires a critical care unit. It is mainly needed in cases -
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Severe burns.
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Major surgery.
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Respiratory failure.
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Organ transplants.
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Complex spinal surgery.
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Renal failures.
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Heart attacks or failures.
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COVID-19.
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Sepsis.
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Excessive bleeding.
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Serious infections.
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Shock.
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Stroke.
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Severe injuries from sudden accidents like a car crash, fall, or shooting.
What Are the Different Categories of Critical Care Units?
Critical care units are categorized based on the condition that requires treatment for the patient, which includes burns, surgery, trauma, and patient age. Specialized care units include medical, surgical, pediatric, cardiac, neonatal, trauma, and burns intensive care units.
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Medical Intensive Care Unit - It is for adult patients requiring specialized medical treatment monitoring. These include diabetic ketoacidosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, drug abuse, stroke, cancer, and respiratory arrest.
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Surgical Intensive Care Unit - It is required to manage postoperative surgical patients who have undergone significant surgeries, including abdominal, craniotomy, thoracotomy, and unstable trauma patients. It is used when any patient requires observation and monitoring or life support after surgery.
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Pediatric Intensive Care Unit - It is used for child patients only. It is used to manage critically ill child patients. The child who requires complete supervision of medical staff is admitted to this unit. This unit is used to handle cases of surgery care or trauma and patient who are at risk of deterioration.
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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit - It is used for neonatal patients born before the due date (prematurely born child). These infants are at high risk of infection or critically ill patients. The neonatal intensive care unit manages neonates with any congenital issues and complications.
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Cardiac Intensive Care Unit - It is used to manage patients with life-threatening conditions related to cardiac issues like cardiac arrest or myocardial infarctions.
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Burns Care Unit - It is a specialized unit to handle burn cases.
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Trauma Care Unit - It is used to manage trauma cases.
What Are the Types of Equipment Installed in the Care Units?
Equipment installed in the critical care units is life-supporting equipment required for organ functioning. The equipment includes -
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Cardiac Monitors - It is used to monitor vital signs.
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Mechanical Ventilator - It is used to ensure the patient receives adequate oxygen and carbon dioxide removal.
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Infusion Pumps - It is used to regulate the medicine given through a drip.
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Suction Machines - These devices remove obstructions like mucus, saliva, or blood.
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Supplemental Oxygen - It is used to provide oxygen on the requirement.
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Other Supporting Devices - Devices like CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure).
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Nasogastric Tubes and Feeding Tubes - They are used to feed the patient through tubes.
What to Expect in a Critical Care Unit?
Critical care units are the special units that provide the highest level of care and treatment to a patient who is critically ill and in a life-threatening condition. Every hospital has a different environment for units. Here are a few points regarding the critical care unit. They are:
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The critical care units can be large and sterile, with the installation of all the required equipment for life support.
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It has a tranquil environment with visible activities of the equipment installed and working for the patients.
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The patient mostly has inserted lines and tubes for feeding and monitoring vital signs.
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The patient is supported with oxygen and artificial ventilators.
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Visitors are only sometimes allowed by the unit staff.
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Critical care units employ specialized personnel to care for patients.
Who Takes Care of the Patient in Critical Care Units?
Critical care units staffs are highly skilled nurses, specialized doctors, and specialists who are trained in critical care to treat ill patients in different fields of surgery, trauma, or other medical conditions.
Is Critical Care Units Beneficial or Not?
Yes, it is beneficial for the patients as in the critical care unit, the patient is under the complete supervision of the medical staff. In addition, staff closely monitor and handle any deterioration in the patient's health.
Are Visitors Allowed to Visit Critical Care Units?
Different hospitals have different policies for visitors; while some usually do not allow visitors in critical care units, others only allow immediate family persons to meet within a specific time limit. So, it is entirely in the hands of the hospitals to enable it or not, depending on the patient's condition.
Is the Patient Completely Looked After in the Critical Care Units?
Yes, the patients are looked after by the highly professional staff of doctors and nurses. The patient is under close supervision of the medical staff, and any change in health issues is viewed closely and handled safely by the staff. In addition, the staff tries their best to balance the patient's health issues.
Conclusion
Critical care units are specialized units to treat and manage critically ill patients. Patients with cardiac arrest, respiratory depression, stroke, surgery, trauma, or burns are among the critically unwell patients. The critical care units have a highly professional staff to encounter critically ill patients. The critical care units are categorized based on the patient's conditions and age. Some of the units are neonatal intensive care units, burn units, trauma units, medically intensive care units, and surgical intensive care units.
