Paediatric Intensive Care Unit

The Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) is a specialized area in a hospital dedicated to the care of critically ill infants, children, and teenagers. Here are some key aspects of the PICU:

Critical Care: The PICU provides intensive monitoring and treatment for children with severe illnesses or injuries, such as respiratory failure, severe infections, trauma, and post-surgical care.

Advanced Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of vital signs, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, and oxygen levels.

Pediatric Intensivists: Doctors specializing in critical care for children.

PICU Nurses: Trained in pediatric critical care, often with a low nurse-to-patient ratio to ensure close monitoring.

Respiratory Therapists: Manage ventilators and other respiratory support devices.

Pharmacists: Specialize in critical care medications.

Physical Therapists: Help with mobility and rehabilitation.

Social Workers and Child Life Specialists: Provide emotional and psychological support to patients and families.

Respiratory Distress: Conditions like asthma, pneumonia, and bronchiolitis.

Severe Infections: Such as sepsis and meningitis.

Post-Surgical Care:For children recovering from major surgeries.

Trauma: Including head injuries and fractures.

Chronic Conditions: Exacerbations of chronic illnesses like cystic fibrosis and congenital heart disease12.

Ventilators: Provide mechanical breathing support.

Hemodynamic Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of blood flow and pressure.

Dialysis Machines: For children with kidney failure.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO): Provides heart and lung support for critically ill children1

Social Workers and Chaplains: Provide emotional and spiritual support to patients and families.

Sepsis: A severe infection that spreads throughout the body.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): Severe lung condition requiring ventilator support.

Heart Failure: Severe cases requiring intensive monitoring and treatment.

Liver and Kidney Failure: Often requiring dialysis or other advanced treatments.

Ventilators: Provide mechanical breathing support.

Hemodynamic Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of blood flow and pressure.

Dialysis Machines: For patients with kidney failure.

Intravenous (IV) Lines: For administering medications and fluids.