intensive care unit
Hospital's critical section
An intensive care unit is a hospital department providing continuous monitoring and life support for critically ill patients.
Often abbreviated ICU: She spent three days in the ICU after the accident.
Intensive care units have specialized equipment and higher staff-to-patient ratios than regular hospital wards.
Mechanical breathing apparatus
- mechanical ventilationMachine-assisted breathing support
- intubationPlacing airway tube
- tracheostomySurgically created airway opening
- dialysisMechanical blood filtration
ECMO · oxygen therapy · vasopressors · feeding tube · central line · arterial line · sedation · induced coma
Hospital cardiac arrest signal
- cardiac arrestAbrupt cessation of circulation
- resuscitationRestoring vital functions
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- crisisDecisive dangerous moment
critical condition · stabilize · life-threatening · crash cart · rapid response · defibrillation · CPR · cardiopulmonary resuscitation
Pressure below ambient levels
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
- visiting hoursDesignated times for guests
- restricted accessEntry limited to authorized individuals
- sterileFree from microorganisms
beeping · quiet hours · hand hygiene · PPE · equipment · IV poles · pumps · tubing
Gradual dietary independence
- extubationRemoval of breathing tube
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- prognosisPredicted disease course
improvement · stabilization · awakening · mobility · delirium · survivors · family meeting · goals of care
Basic body measurements
- telemetryDistant automated data collection
- heart monitorDevice tracking heartbeat
- blood pressureCirculatory force measurement
- ECGCardiac electrical recording
EKG · continuous monitoring · alarms · central station · waveforms · urine output · lab values · electrolytes
Medical professional in intensive care
- respiratory therapistClinician treating breathing disorders
- charge nurseWard's supervising medical professional
- attending physicianSenior doctor supervising care
- fellowMan or companion
resident · night shift · rounds · clinical pharmacist · dietitian · social worker · chaplain · palliative care
ventilator
Mechanical breathing apparatus
- mechanical ventilationMachine-assisted breathing support
- intubationPlacing airway tube
- tracheostomySurgically created airway opening
dialysis · ECMO · oxygen therapy · vasopressors · feeding tube · central line · arterial line · sedation · induced coma · weaning
code blue
Hospital cardiac arrest signal
- cardiac arrestAbrupt cessation of circulation
- resuscitationRestoring vital functions
- traumaLasting psychological wound
crisis · critical condition · stabilize · life-threatening · crash cart · rapid response · defibrillation · CPR · cardiopulmonary resuscitation · shock
negative pressure
Pressure below ambient levels
- curtainFabric hung for privacy
- visiting hoursDesignated times for guests
- restricted accessEntry limited to authorized individuals
sterile · beeping · quiet hours · hand hygiene · PPE · equipment · IV poles · pumps · tubing · cables
weaning
Gradual dietary independence
- extubationRemoval of breathing tube
- dischargeRelease of substance outward
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
prognosis · improvement · stabilization · awakening · mobility · delirium · survivors · family meeting · goals of care · withdrawal of care
vitals
Basic body measurements
- telemetryDistant automated data collection
- heart monitorDevice tracking heartbeat
- blood pressureCirculatory force measurement
ECG · EKG · continuous monitoring · alarms · central station · waveforms · urine output · lab values · electrolytes
ICU nurse
Medical professional in intensive care
- respiratory therapistClinician treating breathing disorders
- charge nurseWard's supervising medical professional
- attending physicianSenior doctor supervising care
fellow · resident · night shift · rounds · clinical pharmacist · dietitian · social worker · chaplain · palliative care · case manager
intensive care unitrecovery room
Ward for surgical aftermath
long-term care facility · rehab center · rehabilitation center · nursing home · wellness center
intensive care unithome care
Assistance provided at residence
home hospice · hospice · comfort care · home health · recovery room
caring, careless, carefree, intensify, caretaker, intensive, uncaring, carefulness, intensified