critical patient
Life hangs precariously
A critical patient is someone whose medical condition is life-threatening or unstable, requiring intensive monitoring and intervention.
The term appears in hospital settings to describe the most severe cases: Three critical patients were airlifted to the trauma center.
News reports often use it when describing accident victims or those in intensive care.
- intensive careSpecialized treatment for severe illness
- emergencySerious sudden danger
- unstableProne to sudden change
- vital signsMeasurable life indicators
- monitorDisplay or supervisor
ventilator · flatline · touch and go · fighting for life · crash cart · code blue · rapid response · resuscitate · do not resuscitate · flat line · surgeon · trauma · medical emergency · bleeding · unconscious · oxygen · ICU · operating room
critical patientstable patient
Person whose condition holds
stable condition · good condition · fair condition · outpatient · walking wounded
critical patientrecovering patient
One regaining health
convalescent · discharged patient · survivor · out of the woods · on the mend
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