Intensive care units (ICUs) are specialist hospital wards that provide treatment and monitoring for people who are very ill.
They're staffed with specially trained healthcare professionals and contain sophisticated monitoring equipment.
ICUs are also sometimes called critical care units (CCUs) or intensive therapy units (ITUs).
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 in an ICU have problems with 1 or more organs. For example, they may be unable to breathe on their own.
There are many different conditions and situations that can mean someone needs intensive care.
Some common reasons include:
a serious accident – such as a road accident, a severe head injury, a serious fall or severe burns a serious short-term condition – such as a heart attack or stroke a serious infection – such as sepsis or severe pneumonia major surgery – this can either be a planned part of your recovery, or an emergency measure if there are complications 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 1 nurse for every 1 or 2 patients.
This equipment is used to monitor their health and support their bodily functions until they recover.
Equipment that may be used on an ICU includes:
a ventilator – a machine that helps with breathing; a tube is placed in the mouth, nose or through a small cut in the throat (tracheostomy) monitoring equipment – used to measure important bodily functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and the level of oxygen in the blood IV lines and pumps – tubes inserted into a vein (intravenously) to provide fluids, nutrition and medication feeding tubes – tubes 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 catheters – drains are tubes used to remove any build-up of blood or fluid from the body; catheters are thin tubes inserted into the bladder to drain pee Someone in an ICU will often be on painkilling medicine and medicine that makes them drowsy (sedatives).
This is because some of the equipment used can be uncomfortable. Visiting an ICU An ICU can often be an overwhelming place, both for the patient and their loved ones.
It can help to know a little about what to expect.
Visiting hours are usually very flexible, but there may be times when visiting is not advised, so it's a good idea to check before you arrive. The number of people allowed around the person's bed may be limited.
To reduce the risk of spreading infection, you'll be asked to clean your hands when entering and leaving the unit and you may not be able to bring in certain things, such as flowers. Avoid visiting if you're ill.
The person you're visiting may be drowsy and seem confused. They may also appear slightly swollen or have injuries like bruises or wounds. This can be upsetting to see, but staff will ensure they're as comfortable as possible.
A series of tubes, wires and cables will be attached to the patient, which may look alarming at first. Ask staff to explain what these are if you'd like to know.
You may hear alarms and bleeps from the equipment. These help staff monitor their patients.
