Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

A specialized department within a hospital that provides intensive treatment and monitoring for critically ill patients who require constant medical attention and support due to life-threatening conditions.

 

Ventilator

A mechanical breathing machine that assists patients who are unable to breathe adequately on their own, often used in the ICU for patients with respiratory failure.

 

Hemodynamic Monitoring

Continuous measurement and assessment of the heart’s function and blood circulation to ensure adequate perfusion and oxygenation of vital organs in critically ill patients.

 

Sepsis

A life-threatening condition caused by the body’s response to an infection, often leading to widespread inflammation, organ dysfunction, and a drop in blood pressure. Prompt treatment is critical in the ICU.

 

Central Line

A catheter inserted into a large vein, typically in the neck, chest, or groin, to administer medication, fluids, or blood products and to monitor central venous pressure and other hemodynamic parameters.

 

Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome (MODS)

A severe condition characterized by the failure of two or more organ systems, commonly observed in critically ill patients in the ICU and often associated with sepsis, trauma, or severe infection.

 

Neuromuscular Blockers

Medications used to induce temporary paralysis of skeletal muscles, often administered in the ICU to facilitate mechanical ventilation and reduce oxygen consumption in critically ill patients.

 

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS)

A severe lung condition characterized by rapid onset of respiratory failure, marked by inflammation and fluid accumulation in the lungs, requiring aggressive management in the ICU, including mechanical ventilation.

 

Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring

Continuous measurement of pressure within the skull to assess and manage patients with traumatic brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage, or other neurological conditions requiring close monitoring in the ICU.

 

Vasoactive Medications

Drugs that affect blood vessel tone and cardiac output, commonly used in the ICU to manage hemodynamic instability, such as hypotension or shock, by increasing or decreasing vascular resistance and cardiac contractility.