CriticalCare
Critical care is a branch of medicine focused on the diagnosis and management of life-threatening illnesses and injuries. It provides comprehensive, continuous monitoring and support for patients whose organ systems may fail or be at risk of failure, usually in an intensive care unit (ICU). The goal is to stabilize the patient, prevent secondary injury, and facilitate recovery through coordinated, goal-directed therapy.
Critical care is delivered by an interdisciplinary team that may include intensivists, critical care nurses, respiratory
Common indications include sepsis, septic shock, acute respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, shock, trauma, post-operative complications,
Care often emphasizes timely diagnosis, lung-protective ventilation strategies, minimization of sedation, delirium prevention, and early mobilization
Training in critical care medicine typically includes residency in a primary specialty followed by an intensive