What does ICU mean?
May 16, 2023
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Yang Shuwen
Introduction
An ICU (Intensive Care Unit) refers to a specialized ward for critical care. The intensive care unit primarily provides an isolated environment for critically ill or comatose patients, offering enhanced nursing care and comprehensive treatments. ICUs can be further categorized into types such as burn ICU, cardiovascular surgery ICU, etc., and are equipped with devices including bedside monitors, multi-functional respiratory therapy machines, and pacemakers.
An ICU (Intensive Care Unit) is a specialized ward for critical care. The detailed explanation is as follows:
The intensive care unit primarily provides an isolated environment for critically ill or comatose patients, offering enhanced nursing care and comprehensive medical treatments. ICUs can be further categorized into specialized units such as burn ICU, cardiovascular surgical ICU, etc. These units are equipped with bedside monitors, multi-functional respiratory therapy machines, pacemakers, and other devices. In better-equipped hospitals, additional facilities may include dialysis machines, electroencephalogram (EEG) machines, and blood and urine analyzers. The ICU mainly admits and treats patients with severe trauma, those who have undergone major surgery, patients requiring cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), organ failure, severe shock, or organ transplantation. Once a patient's condition stabilizes or improves, they are transferred to a general ward.
It should be noted that continuous 24-hour monitoring by medical staff is provided in the intensive care unit to constantly observe vital signs and changes in the patient's condition. This allows immediate treatment in case of any abnormalities, which is beneficial for the patient's recovery.
