Intensive Care Unit
Vanny-ann S. Catungal
Union Christian College
,(CATUNGAL, VANNY-ANN, S.) 2
Instructions
Research on the following topics :
1. What's ABOUT ICU.
What is an intensive care unit (ICU)?
Intensive care refers to the specialised treatment given to patients who are acutely unwell
and require critical medical care.
An intensive care unit (ICU) provides the critical care and life support for acutely ill and
injured patients.
Unless you are an emergency admission, you will need a referral from your doctor or
specialist to be admitted to ICU.
ICU is one of the most critically functioning operational environments in a hospital.
Every ICU in a hospital has a different environment that will reflect the specialist medical
and surgical procedures they perform.
Most ICUs are fairly large sterile areas with a high concentration of specialized, technical
and monitoring equipment needed to care for critically ill patients.
The ICU environment can be confronting for some patients and visitors who may find the
activity, sounds, machines, tubes and monitors intimidating.
Typically ICU also has a higher ratio of doctors and nurses to patients.
Who is cared for in ICU?
Patients may have a planned admission following surgery, an unexpected admission after
an accident or be admitted because of a sudden and critical deterioration to their health.
ICU teams are multi-disciplinary, made up of highly skilled intensive care nurses, doctors
and specialists trained in providing critical care for patients with a variety of medical,
surgical and trauma conditions.
Some hospital ICUs specialize in providing care for particular health conditions or
injuries including:
➢ Major trauma
➢ Severe burns
➢ Respiratory failure
,(CATUNGAL, VANNY-ANN, S.) 3
➢ Organ transplants
➢ Complex spinal surgery
➢ Cardiothoracic surgery.
2. Commonly used drugs in ICU.
1 Amiodarone 3 Cisatricurium
Drug Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias refractory Drug As an adjunct to general
to other agents.
Indic Indications anesthesia to facilitate
ations endotracheal intubation
and to relax skeletal
5 mg/kg IV over 1 h
muscles during surgery; to
1200 mg / 500 mL or 2400 facilitate mechanical
Loading Dose ventilation in the ICU
Loadi mcg/mL
Infusion Dose patient.
ng 5 mg/kg IV over 1 h then 1200 mg
Dose IV continuous infusion over 24 h. Med Order
0.15-0.2 mg/kg IV
Infusi Order daily for 5 days, then
on reassess. *Infuse centrally, if 100 mg / 50 mL or
Dose possible. 2000 mcg/mL
Med 0.1 mg/kg bolus; at initial
Order signs of recovery
Comment begin at infusion rate
of 0.03-0.6 mg/kg/min
Class III antiarrthythmic. and adjust accordingly
Extended load (7 days) is required. (rates of 0.5-10
Beware of hypotension, mcg/kg/min).
bradycardia and AV heart block.
Com Monitor QT interval. Switch to oral
ment (400 mg q6h po), for the balance of
the load, as soon as possible.
Should have baseline thyroid
function studies. If amiodarone is Non-depolarizing
stopped, effects will last for an neuromuscular blocking
extended period of time. agent. Elimination
independent of renal or
hepatic function. Does
not relieve pain or
produce sedation.
Ventilation must be
supported during
neuromuscular blockade
and adequate
sedation/analgesia must
be ordered. **Only to be
initiated after discussion
, (CATUNGAL, VANNY-ANN, S.) 4
with ICU Senior or
Consultant.
2 Bretylium 4 Diltiazem
Drug Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Drug PSVT; hAtrialhfibrillation
hor hflutter. hTemporary
Indic Indications
hcontrolhof hatrial
ations
hfibrillation hventricular
5 mg/kg IV over 1 minute
hrate hbut hrarely hconverts
hto hnormalhsinus hrhythm.
2000 mg / 500 mL or 4000 Loading hDose
Loadi mcg/mL
Infusion hDose
ng For refractory ventricular 0.15 hmg/kg hIV hoverh2 hmin
Dose fibrillation give 5 mg/kg over 1 Med hOrder h(usuallyh20 hmg)
Infusi minute. May repeat 10 mg/kg
on bolus at 5-30 minute intervals. 125 hmgh/ h100 hmL or
Dose Up to total dose of 30 mg/kg. 1250 hmcg/mL
Start infusion at 1 mg/min. Giveh0.15 hmg/kg hIV hover
Med h2 hminh(mayhrepeathwith
Order h0.35 hmg/kg hin h15
Comment
hminutes). h hStart hinfusion
hat h5-10 hmg/h. h hIncrease
*Should not be used in place of
hin h5 hmg/hhincrements hup
more rapidly acting agents since
hto h15 hmg/hhas hneeded.
there is a delay in antiarrhythmic
effect; should only be used if
Com lidocaine/defibrillation have failed
ment
Vanny-ann S. Catungal
Union Christian College
,(CATUNGAL, VANNY-ANN, S.) 2
Instructions
Research on the following topics :
1. What's ABOUT ICU.
What is an intensive care unit (ICU)?
Intensive care refers to the specialised treatment given to patients who are acutely unwell
and require critical medical care.
An intensive care unit (ICU) provides the critical care and life support for acutely ill and
injured patients.
Unless you are an emergency admission, you will need a referral from your doctor or
specialist to be admitted to ICU.
ICU is one of the most critically functioning operational environments in a hospital.
Every ICU in a hospital has a different environment that will reflect the specialist medical
and surgical procedures they perform.
Most ICUs are fairly large sterile areas with a high concentration of specialized, technical
and monitoring equipment needed to care for critically ill patients.
The ICU environment can be confronting for some patients and visitors who may find the
activity, sounds, machines, tubes and monitors intimidating.
Typically ICU also has a higher ratio of doctors and nurses to patients.
Who is cared for in ICU?
Patients may have a planned admission following surgery, an unexpected admission after
an accident or be admitted because of a sudden and critical deterioration to their health.
ICU teams are multi-disciplinary, made up of highly skilled intensive care nurses, doctors
and specialists trained in providing critical care for patients with a variety of medical,
surgical and trauma conditions.
Some hospital ICUs specialize in providing care for particular health conditions or
injuries including:
➢ Major trauma
➢ Severe burns
➢ Respiratory failure
,(CATUNGAL, VANNY-ANN, S.) 3
➢ Organ transplants
➢ Complex spinal surgery
➢ Cardiothoracic surgery.
2. Commonly used drugs in ICU.
1 Amiodarone 3 Cisatricurium
Drug Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias refractory Drug As an adjunct to general
to other agents.
Indic Indications anesthesia to facilitate
ations endotracheal intubation
and to relax skeletal
5 mg/kg IV over 1 h
muscles during surgery; to
1200 mg / 500 mL or 2400 facilitate mechanical
Loading Dose ventilation in the ICU
Loadi mcg/mL
Infusion Dose patient.
ng 5 mg/kg IV over 1 h then 1200 mg
Dose IV continuous infusion over 24 h. Med Order
0.15-0.2 mg/kg IV
Infusi Order daily for 5 days, then
on reassess. *Infuse centrally, if 100 mg / 50 mL or
Dose possible. 2000 mcg/mL
Med 0.1 mg/kg bolus; at initial
Order signs of recovery
Comment begin at infusion rate
of 0.03-0.6 mg/kg/min
Class III antiarrthythmic. and adjust accordingly
Extended load (7 days) is required. (rates of 0.5-10
Beware of hypotension, mcg/kg/min).
bradycardia and AV heart block.
Com Monitor QT interval. Switch to oral
ment (400 mg q6h po), for the balance of
the load, as soon as possible.
Should have baseline thyroid
function studies. If amiodarone is Non-depolarizing
stopped, effects will last for an neuromuscular blocking
extended period of time. agent. Elimination
independent of renal or
hepatic function. Does
not relieve pain or
produce sedation.
Ventilation must be
supported during
neuromuscular blockade
and adequate
sedation/analgesia must
be ordered. **Only to be
initiated after discussion
, (CATUNGAL, VANNY-ANN, S.) 4
with ICU Senior or
Consultant.
2 Bretylium 4 Diltiazem
Drug Life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Drug PSVT; hAtrialhfibrillation
hor hflutter. hTemporary
Indic Indications
hcontrolhof hatrial
ations
hfibrillation hventricular
5 mg/kg IV over 1 minute
hrate hbut hrarely hconverts
hto hnormalhsinus hrhythm.
2000 mg / 500 mL or 4000 Loading hDose
Loadi mcg/mL
Infusion hDose
ng For refractory ventricular 0.15 hmg/kg hIV hoverh2 hmin
Dose fibrillation give 5 mg/kg over 1 Med hOrder h(usuallyh20 hmg)
Infusi minute. May repeat 10 mg/kg
on bolus at 5-30 minute intervals. 125 hmgh/ h100 hmL or
Dose Up to total dose of 30 mg/kg. 1250 hmcg/mL
Start infusion at 1 mg/min. Giveh0.15 hmg/kg hIV hover
Med h2 hminh(mayhrepeathwith
Order h0.35 hmg/kg hin h15
Comment
hminutes). h hStart hinfusion
hat h5-10 hmg/h. h hIncrease
*Should not be used in place of
hin h5 hmg/hhincrements hup
more rapidly acting agents since
hto h15 hmg/hhas hneeded.
there is a delay in antiarrhythmic
effect; should only be used if
Com lidocaine/defibrillation have failed
ment
