Intensive Care
What intensive care involves
Source: NHS
In this topic (7)
Patients on an ICU will be looked after closely by a team of ICU staff and will be connected to equipment by a number of tubes, wires and cables. There will normally be one nurse for every one or two patients.
This equipment is used tomonitor their health and support their bodily functions until they recover.
Equipment that may be used on an ICU includes:
- a ventilatoramachine that helps with breathing; a tube is placed in the mouth, nose, or through a small cut in the throat ( tracheostomy )
- monitoring equipmentused to measure important bodily functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and the level of oxygen in the blood
- IVlines and pumpstubes insertedinto a vein (intravenously) to provide fluids, nutritionand medication
- feeding tubestubes placed in the nose, through a small cut made in the tummy, or into a vein if a person is unable to eat normally
- drains and cathetersdrains are tubesused to remove any build-up of blood or fluid from the body; catheters are thin tubesinserted into the bladder to drain urine
Someone in an ICU will oftenbe on painkilling medication and medication that makes them drowsy (sedatives). This is because some of the equipment used can be uncomfortable.
Articles for Intensive Care
Introduction
Find out about intensive care units (ICUs), specialist hospital wards for people who are seriously ill.
Making decisions about care
If your loved one has been admitted to an ICU andis awake and able to communicate, they'll be fully involved in decisions abouttheir care. But if they're unconscious or sedated, they may not be able
More information
The following websites can be useful sources of more information and support: ICU steps a charity and support group for ICU patients and their loved ones that produces a detailed intensive care gu
Recovering from intensive care
Once a person no longer needs intensive care, theycan be transferred to a different ward to continue their recovery before eventually going home. Some people may leave the ICU after a few days. Other
Visiting an ICU
An ICU can often be an overwhelming place, both for the patient and their loved ones. It can therefore help to know a little about what to expect. Visiting hours visiting hours are usually very flex
What intensive care involves
Patients on an ICU will be looked after closely by a team of ICU staff and will be connected to equipment by a number of tubes, wires and cables. There will normally be one nurse for every one or two
When intensive care is needed
Intensive care is needed if someone is seriously ill and requires intensive treatment and close monitoring, or if they're having surgery and intensive care can help them recover. Most people on an IC