ICU

The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a sophisticated self-contained unit within a medical facility that is well equipped with high-tech specialized capabilities for the meticulous monitoring, early intervention, and often lengthy treatment of patients with acute organ dysfunction. Its mission is to provide care and monitoring for patients in life-threatening situations. The purpose of intensive care is to keep important functions alive in severely ill patients in order to prevent further physiological deterioration, mortality, and morbidity.

The pathologies/conditions treated in intensive care units can be categorized (e.g., neurological, trauma, burns, medical, or surgical ICUs) or the patient’s age group (adult or pediatric). Medical, surgical, pediatric, and neonatal intensive care units are examples of specialized critical care units.