Intensive care

What intensive care involves

Patients on an ICU will be looked after closely by a team of ICU staff and will be connected to equipment by a number of tubes, wires and cables. There will normally be one nurse for every one or two patients.

This equipment is used tomonitor their health and support their bodily functions until they recover.

Equipment that may be used on an ICU includes:

a ventilatoramachine that helps with breathing; a tube is placed in the mouth, nose, or through a small cut in the throat ( tracheostomy )
monitoring equipmentused to measure important bodily functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and the level of oxygen in the blood
IVlines and pumpstubes insertedinto a vein (intravenously) to provide fluids, nutritionand medication
feeding tubestubes placed in the nose, through a small cut made in the tummy, or into a vein if a person is unable to eat normally
drains and cathetersdrains are tubesused to remove any build-up of blood or fluid from the body; catheters are thin tubesinserted into the bladder to drain urine

Someone in an ICU will oftenbe on painkilling medication and medication that makes them drowsy (sedatives). This is because some of the equipment used can be uncomfortable.

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for intensive care

Introduction

Find out about intensive care units (ICUs), specialist hospital wards for people who are seriously ill.

When intensive care is needed

Intensive care is needed if someone is seriously ill and requires intensive treatment and close monitoring, or if they're having surgery and intensive care can help them recover. Most people on an IC

What intensive care involves

Patients on an ICU will be looked after closely by a team of ICU staff and will be connected to equipment by a number of tubes, wires and cables. There will normally be one nurse for every one or two

Visiting an ICU

An ICU can often be an overwhelming place, both for the patient and their loved ones. It can therefore help to know a little about what to expect. Visiting hours visiting hours are usually very flex

Recovering from intensive care

Once a person no longer needs intensive care, theycan be transferred to a different ward to continue their recovery before eventually going home. Some people may leave the ICU after a few days. Other

Making decisions about care

If your loved one has been admitted to an ICU andis awake and able to communicate, they'll be fully involved in decisions abouttheir care. But if they're unconscious or sedated, they may not be able

More information

The following websites can be useful sources of more information and support: ICU steps a charity and support group for ICU patients and their loved ones that produces a detailed intensive care gu

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