ICU

An intensive care unit (ICU) is a hospital department that specializes in the care of critically ill patients who require close monitoring and advanced life-support systems. ICUs are equipped to support failing organs and to detect complications early, with continuous access to medical staff and hospital resources.

ICUs provide continuous monitoring of vital signs and organ function and can deliver therapies such as mechanical ventilation, invasive cardiovascular monitoring, fluid and vasopressor support, renal replacement therapy, and, in some centers, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). They manage severe infections, major trauma, post-operative complications, and acute organ failure.

Care in the ICU is typically provided by a team that includes critical care physicians (intensivists), critical care nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, and other specialists. Daily rounds and targeted management plans aim to stabilize patients, optimize organ function, and prevent deterioration, while adjusting treatment as the clinical picture evolves.

ICUs may be organized into units focused on different patient groups, such as medical, surgical, cardiac, neurocritical care, pediatric, neonatal, or burns. Patients arrive from the emergency department, operating room, or regular wards, and the length of stay varies with the condition, response to treatment, and goals of care.

Ethical and practical decisions are integral to ICU care, including discussions about prognosis and goals of treatment. Availability, staffing, and practices differ by country and hospital, reflecting resources and policy. Outcomes depend on illness severity, comorbidities, and timely, appropriate intervention.