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Department of Critical Care

SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals is a leading healthcare institution committed to providing exceptional medical services to patients, and at the heart of this commitment lies the Department of Critical Care. This dedicated department plays an important role in ensuring the well-being of patients facing life-threatening conditions and medical emergencies.

Facilities and Infrastructure
The Department of Critical Care at SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals is housed in a modern, purpose-built facility designed to meet the highest standards of patient care and safety. The infrastructure is meticulously designed to provide an optimal environment for the treatment and monitoring of critically ill patients. Key features of the department's facilities include:

  • Advanced Intensive Care Units (ICUs): SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals boasts state-of-the-art ICUs equipped with the latest medical technology, including advanced monitoring systems, life support equipment, and specialized beds to ensure patient comfort and safety.
  • Dedicated Staff: The department is staffed with a team of highly qualified and experienced intensivists, critical care nurses, respiratory therapists, and support staff who are available around the clock to provide expert care.
  • Isolation Rooms: In addition to general ICU beds, the department offers isolation rooms equipped to handle patients with contagious diseases, ensuring both their safety and the safety of others.
  • Diagnostic Facilities: The department has access to a wide range of diagnostic tools, including radiology and imaging services, laboratory facilities, and point-of-care testing, enabling rapid and accurate assessment of patient conditions.
  • Pharmacy Services: SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals pharmacy services are closely integrated with the Department of Critical Care, ensuring timely and precise medication administration.
  • Rehabilitation Services: A dedicated team of physiotherapists and occupational therapists work closely with critical care patients to aid in their recovery and rehabilitation.

Specialized Medical Staff
The highlight of the Department of Critical Care's success is its highly skilled and compassionate medical team. The department is led by board-certified intensivists who have undergone rigorous training in critical care medicine. These specialists are experts in managing a wide range of critical medical conditions, including:

  • Severe respiratory distress
  • Cardiovascular emergencies
  • Neurological crises
  • Renal failure
  • Sepsis and severe infections
  • Trauma and post-surgical critical care

The intensivists work collaboratively with critical care nurses who are specially trained in providing meticulous care, monitoring vital signs, administering medications, and ensuring patient comfort. Respiratory therapists are also an integral part of the team, managing mechanical ventilation and ensuring optimal respiratory function for patients.

Technology and Medical Advancements
SHALBY Sanar International Hospitals commitment to excellence extends to the integration of cutting-edge technology within the Department of Critical Care. The department is equipped with advanced medical equipment and monitoring systems, including:

  • Ventilators: High-end mechanical ventilators with advanced modes and settings for patients with respiratory failure.
  • Hemodynamic Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of blood pressure, cardiac output, and other vital parameters to ensure timely intervention in case of any fluctuations.
  • Advanced Imaging: Access to on-site imaging modalities such as CT scans, X-rays, and ultrasound for rapid diagnostic assessments.
  • Telemedicine: Integration of telemedicine technology allows for real-time consultations with specialists from various medical disciplines, ensuring comprehensive and prompt care.
  • Electronic Health Records (EHRs): Comprehensive EHR systems enable seamless information exchange, providing healthcare providers with a complete patient history and facilitating data-driven decisions.
  • Life Support Systems: State-of-the-art life support systems, including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), are available for patients with organ failure.

Conditions Treated by The Department
The Critical Care Department at a hospital is responsible for treating a wide range of life-threatening medical conditions and providing intensive care to patients who require constant monitoring and specialized medical interventions. Here are some of the common conditions treated by the Critical Care Department:

  • Sepsis: Sepsis is a severe systemic infection that can lead to organ dysfunction, shock, and multi-organ failure. Patients with sepsis often require aggressive treatment and close monitoring in the critical care unit.
  • Respiratory Failure: Patients experiencing respiratory failure have difficulty breathing and may require mechanical ventilation to support their oxygenation and ventilation needs. Conditions such as pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to respiratory failure.
  • Cardiac Conditions: Critical care units manage patients with various cardiac conditions, including acute myocardial infarction (heart attack), congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, and cardiac arrest. These patients may require medications, mechanical support, or interventions like angioplasty.
  • Neurological Emergencies: Conditions such as stroke, traumatic brain injury, seizures, and intracranial hemorrhage often necessitate intensive care management to prevent complications and provide neurological support.
  • Post-Surgical Care: Patients recovering from major surgeries, especially those involving the cardiovascular or gastrointestinal systems, may require critical care to monitor their vital signs, manage pain, and address potential complications.
  • Trauma: Critical care units are equipped to handle trauma patients with severe injuries, including those from accidents, falls, or violence. These patients may require surgical interventions and extensive monitoring.
  • Kidney Failure: Acute kidney injury (AKI) or chronic kidney disease (CKD) can lead to kidney failure, requiring critical care management, such as renal replacement therapy (dialysis) or hemodynamic support.
  • Gastrointestinal Bleeding: Patients with severe gastrointestinal bleeding may require critical care to stabilize their condition, identify the source of bleeding, and provide necessary interventions.
  • Liver Failure: Acute liver failure or complications related to chronic liver disease may require specialized care in the critical care unit, including monitoring of coagulation parameters and addressing hepatic encephalopathy.
  • Metabolic Disorders: Conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state (HHS), and electrolyte imbalances can lead to life-threatening metabolic disturbances requiring intensive care.
  • Hematological Disorders: Critical care may be necessary for patients with severe bleeding disorders, thrombotic events, or complications related to blood cancers.
  • Multi-Organ Failure: Some patients experience failure of multiple organ systems, often as a result of sepsis or other severe conditions. Managing these patients requires comprehensive critical care support.
  • Post-Cardiac Arrest Care: Patients who experience cardiac arrest and are successfully resuscitated require intensive care to manage the aftermath, including therapeutic hypothermia, neurological assessment, and hemodynamic support.
  • Respiratory Infections: Severe respiratory infections, such as severe pneumonia or influenza, may lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and require critical care interventions, including mechanical ventilation.
  • Burn Injuries: Critical care units are equipped to manage patients with extensive burn injuries, providing wound care, fluid resuscitation, and infection control.
  • Organ Transplants: Patients who undergo organ transplantation, such as heart, lung, liver, or kidney transplants, require intensive post-operative care to prevent rejection and manage potential complications.
  • Cancer Complications: Patients with cancer may develop critical complications, including sepsis, chemotherapy-related toxicities, or tumor-related obstructions that necessitate critical care interventions.
  • Pediatric Critical Care: Critical care units also provide specialized care for critically ill children, addressing conditions such as respiratory distress, congenital heart defects, sepsis, and traumatic injuries.

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FAQ'S

What is critical care?

Critical care is medical care for people who have life-threatening injuries and illnesses. It frequently occurs in an intensive care unit (ICU). A team of fully qualified health care workers provides 24-hour care. This includes equipment that constantly checks your vital indicators. It is very common to have specialized therapies.

Who needs critical care?

You need critical care if you have a life-threatening illness or injury, such as severe burns, COVID-19, heart attack, heart failure, kidney failure, people recovering from certain major surgeries, respiratory failure, sepsis, severe bleeding, serious infections, serious injuries, such as from car crashes, falls, and shootings, shock, and stroke.

What types of patients are admitted to critical care?

Patients requiring critical care may have severe infections (e.g., sepsis), heart attacks or severe arrhythmias, respiratory failure needing ventilator support, post-surgery recovery from complex procedures, traumatic injuries (e.g., car accidents, falls), and neurological emergencies like strokes or brain injuries.

What is the difference between ICU and CCU?

ICU (Intensive Care Unit) treats general critical illnesses (such as respiratory, neurological, or multi-system conditions). CCU (Cardiac Care Unit) treats critical heart conditions like myocardial infarctions and arrhythmias.

Who is on the Critical Care Team?

The Critical Care Team consists of intensivists, nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and support workers.

How does the family stay informed?

The healthcare staff communicates with the patient's family on a frequent basis to keep them up to date on their condition, progress, and treatment plans. Family gatherings can be organized for in-depth discussions.

Can family members visit critical care?

Visitation restrictions differ by hospital, but most ICUs/CCUs follow tight guidelines to maintain a sanitary and quiet environment. Visiting hours may be limited, and visitors are frequently required to wear protective equipment.

What equipment is utilized in critical care?

Ventilators, monitors for heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels, dialysis machines for renal assistance, infusion pumps for drug delivery, and defibrillators for heart emergencies

How long does a patient stay in critical care?

The duration depends on the severity of the sickness and the patient's reaction to therapy. Some people recover quickly, while others require long-term care.

Is critical care expensive?

Critical care can be expensive due to the requirement for advanced equipment and specialised personnel. Insurance coverage and financial assistance possibilities should be reviewed with hospital financial consultants.

What happens after being discharged from critical care?

Patients are frequently transferred to a step-down unit for additional monitoring or to a regular ward before release. Some may need rehabilitation or follow-up care. Following your discharge from critical care, you might anticipate a variety of events, including follow-up, discharge location, care, follow-up care, services, obstacles, and support.

Are critical-care patients conscious?

This is dependent on the patient's condition and therapy. Some people may be drugged or unconscious as a result of their condition or the necessity for ventilator assistance. Critically ill patients with hidden consciousness and intact distributed networks may be able to experience pain and hear bedside talks from clinicians who mistakenly believe the patient is insensate or unaware based on behavioral assessment.

How should I call the critical care team in the event of an emergency?

Hospitals typically have a specific number or protocol for contacting the critical care team. Contact information can be acquired at the hospital's main reception or emergency department.

Are critical care services available around the clock (24/7)?

Yes, critical care units are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with a specialized team of specialists, nurses, and support workers ready to handle any emergency.

How are end-of-life decisions addressed in critical care?

End-of-life decisions in critical care are complex and emotionally challenging. They require careful communication, ethical considerations, and respect for the patient's preferences. The healthcare team collaborates closely with the family to discuss the prognosis and treatment choices while always respecting the patient's preferences and dignity. Palliative care may be used in such instances.