This document provides an introduction to intensive care units (ICUs), including definitions, classifications, and types. It defines ICUs as areas in hospitals that care for patients with life-threatening illnesses or injuries. ICUs can be classified based on staff qualifications, care complexity, and specialty. There are three levels of ICUs - Level I provides short-term care for less than 24 hours; Level II provides multisystem support in larger hospitals; Level III provides comprehensive long-term critical care. ICUs can also be open or closed based on physician management, and single-specialty or multidisciplinary based on patient types. High dependency units provide intermediate care and a step-down from the ICU.

1. INTRODUCTION TO ICU
DR. MAHESWARI JAIKUMAR
maheswarijaikumar2103@gmail.com

2. INTRODUCTION TO ICU
DR.MAHESWARI JAIKUMAR
maheswarijaikumar2103@gmail.com

3. DEFINITION
• ICU is a geographical area in a
hospital where the patients
with life-threatening illness or
injuries are cared

4. CLASSIFICATION
• ICU may be classified according
to the availability of qualified
staff, the complexity of the care
delivered and specialty

5. TYPES
• Level I ICU
• Level II ICU
• Level III ICU

6. LEVEL - I ICU
• Is located in a small hospital,
providing resuscitation and short
term pulmonary support for less
than 24 hours

7. LEVEL - II ICU
• Is an adult ICU located in a larger
hospital with a well qualified
intensivist and provides
multisystem support.
• It may lack in some form of
advanced therapy

8. LEVEL - II

9. LEVEL - III ICU
• Is an adult ICU located in a large
tertiary care centre with the
capability of providing
comprehensive critical care for a
prolonged period of time

10. • This type of ICU is manned by a
qualified multidisciplinary team
consisting of critical care
medicine consultant, fellowship
trainee, specialist from other
discipline, critical care specialized
nurses, nurse practitioners, and
qualified allied health personnel

11. LEVEL - III ICU

12. OTHER TYPES
• 1. OPEN ICU
• 2. CLOSED ICU

13. OPEN ICU
• Is one where a group of critically
ill patients may be treated and
managed not by critical care
medicine qualified consultants
but by different specialist.

14. OPEN ICU

15. CLOSED ICU
• Is an ICU that is managed by a
qualified critical care specialized
physicians round the clock
(24X7).
• Patient care management
decisions are taken primarily by
the intensive care consultant

16. CLOSED ICU

17. SINLGE SPECIALTY Vs MULTI
SPECIALTY ICU
• Based on the type of patients,
the ICU can be classified as
multidisciplinary critical care unit
or single specialty critical units

18. EXAMPLE
• Medical ICU
• Surgical ICU
• Cardio Thoracic ICU
• Renal ICU

19. • Since the pathophysological
processes and the management
modalities are the same
irrespective of cause,
multidisciplinary ICU is
considered as cost effective
compared with single Specialty
ICU

20. HIGH DEPENDENCY UNIT
• A HDU provides intermediary care, a
unit that can provide smooth
transition from ICU to the general
ward
• It can be a step-down unit for the
patients at risk of developing
another acute episode of a serious
ailment

21. • In the HDU, invasive monitoring
and support for single – organ
failure is offered for those with a
high risk of clinical deterioration
or unpredicted clinical course.
• The HDU is managed by a
qualified Intensivist and team

22. THANK YOU