Critical Care

What is Critical Care?

Critical care is a medical specialty department which is specialized in providing medical facilities for patients with severe injuries and illness It is equipped with specialized devices for close monitoring and advancements which will help stabilize who are battling with life threatening conditions. This specialty mainly focuses on giving advanced treatments generally taking place in the Intensive Care Unit(ICU)

Types of Critical care

Medical ICU(MICU): This specialized centre focuses on severe to life threatening medical conditions like respiratory conditions , heart failure , organ damage and sepsis.
Cardiac ICU(CICU): This specialized ICU focuses on critical heart conditions which are severe and life threatening including myocardial infarction, heart failure and angina.
Surgical ICU(SICU): This Specialized Centre mainly focuses on traumas , severe injuries ,major surgical procedures .It also involves postoperative care.
Paediatric ICU(PICU) : This specialized centre provides care for critically ill infants and children .The PICU is also equipped with Paediatric Trauma care centre are well equipped along with excellent paediatric sub specialities .
Neuro ICU : This is a specialized centre which focuses on treatments involves neurological conditions Specializes in treating critical neurological conditions such as strokes, traumatic brain injuries, and seizures.
Neonatal ICU (NICU) : This is a specialized centre which generally provides treatment newborn infants who are born with complex medical conditions.

Common Signs & Symptoms seen in critical care

Respiratoty symptoms: SOB(Shortness of Breath, Difficulty Breathing , wheezing
Heart: Heavy chest , Sharp trobbing pain in the chest , bloot clots , heart attack
Severe Infeections and Bleeding disorders
Neurological: anxiety , Behavioural change , disorientation , brain injury leading to trauma ,stroke
Severe pain

Conditions where admission into critical care is needed

Severe Respiratory Conditions Shock due to infection or trauma
Trauma
Surgical Complications
Critical Heart conditions
Sepsis
Severe Infections
Neurological Conditions
Post Operative Complications

Diagnostic Test performed in critical care units

Blood Tests : These include arterial blood gas, coagulation test , Cardiac Markers test these help in detecting organ functions , detecting infections
Imaging tests : These include CT, X-Ray , MRI , ultrasound which help in assessing abnormalities and detect internal injuries.
Cardiac Monitoring : An ECG is done to diagnose heart conditions and detect any abnormalities
Bronchoscopy : This is mainly done to detect abnormalities in the airways till the lungs . This is generally done at the bedside in the ICU.
Lumbar Puncture test : Lumbar Puncture test is done by taking Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) from the brain and kidneys .This test helps in detecting neurological disorders like trauma , meningitis ,Stroke and Brain injury
Endoscopy : it is done to detect gastric related ailments like swollen stomach . This is also done at Bedside

Chemotherapy: This is a classic treatment option for patients diagnosed with Cancer .It uses drugs which will stop the growth of fast growing cells.
Surgical procedures: Surgeries are performed to treat internal bleeding and organ damange
Radiation therapy: X ray Beams are used to kill cancer causing cells and prevent from reoccurrence
Medications: Medications such as analgesics(Pain Killers), antibiotics , anti hypertensive , anti psychotic drugs are used based on the patient condition and diagnosis
Rehabilitation: This is used for long term chronic disease patients.Physical therapy or occupational therapy to aid recovery after critical illness or injury.
Dialysis: This is a infiltration of kidneys usually done in kidney failure patients

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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is difference between critical care and intensive care ?

Intensive care refers to area where monitoring and treatment is provided in critically ill conditions , whereas , critical care is used for specialized treatment for critical conditions

2. Who will need critical care ?

All the patients with severe injuries , life threateningand critical conditions will need immediate attention will have to be treated in critical care units

3. How long should I be in critical care ?

The stay in ICU depends on severity of disease and condition of the patient . It may be from few days , weeks to months

4. What are the risks associated with critical care?

Risks include infections, complications from medical procedures, adverse reactions to medications, organ dysfunction, and prolonged recovery times.

5. Are family members allowed into the critical care unit ?

Generally , critical care units are restricted to outsiders. However, hospital provide a particular time for visiting the patients in critical care