An intensive care unit (ICU), also known as an intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU), is a special department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensive treatment medicine.

Intensive care units cater to patients with severe or life-threatening illnesses and injuries, which require constant care, close supervision from life support equipment and medication in order to ensure normal bodily functions. They are staffed by highly trained physicians, nurses and respiratory therapists who specialize in caring for critically ill patients.

ICUs are also distinguished from general hospital wards by a higher staff-to-patient ratio and to access to advanced medical resources and equipment that is not routinely available elsewhere. Common conditions that are treated within ICUs include acute (or adult) respiratory distress syndrome, hypertension, metastases and other life-threatening conditions.

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 in an ICU have problems with 1 or more organs. For example, they may be unable to breathe on their own. There are many different conditions and situations that can mean someone needs intensive care. Some common reasons include:

• a serious accident: such as a road accident, a severe head injury, a serious fall or severe burns
• a serious short-term condition: such as a heart attack or stroke
• a serious infection: such as sepsis or severe pneumonia
• major surgery: this can either be a planned part of your recovery, or an emergency measure if there are complications

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 1 nurse for every 1 or 2 patients. This equipment is used to monitor their health and support their bodily functions until they recover. Equipment that may be used on an ICU includes:

• a ventilator: a machine that helps with breathing; a tube is placed in the mouth, nose or through a small cut in the throat (tracheostomy)
• monitoring equipment: used to measure important bodily functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure and the level of oxygen in the blood
• IV lines and pumps: tubes inserted into a vein (intravenously) to provide fluids, nutrition and medication
• feeding tubes: tubes placed in the nose, through a small cut made in the tummy or into a vein if a person is unable to eat normally