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Intensive Care

Critical care, also known as intensive care, is needed if someone is seriously ill with life-threatening conditions and requires intensive treatment and close monitoring. This is carried out in a ward called the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). These wards within the hospital are staffed with a multi-disciplinary healthcare team equipped and designed to closely monitor and treat patients with life-threatening conditions. Patients may need specialist treatment because one or more of their body systems, such as their heart, lung, or kidneys, are not working properly.

Because our patients are often very unwell, they will have much greater care needs than those patients being cared for on more general wards within the hospital. For this reason, each nurse will care for one patient only at a time and patients will be reviewed by different teams regularly.

 

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External Video: Surviving COVID: Life after ICU

What are the longterm effects of Covid-19? Times’ journalist Roger Boyes spent weeks under sedation in the intensive care unit after being diagnosed with covid-19 in March. He is one of the thousands who were put on a ventilator for lifesaving treatment at the height of the pandemic. This video includes an interview with members of the ICU recovery service at Guys and St Thomas' Hospital, Dr Joel Meyer, ICU consultant. Dr Alex Quigley, clinical psychologist.

External Video: Symptoms of Post Intensive Care Syndrome and Families

This video explains the symptoms of post intensive care syndrome, what families will experience and the types of support that are availble to patients and families

Web Link: Tests explained

This link will take you to Lab Tests Online, a UK-based group. You can find information on various conditions and tests. It's written in slightly technical language (even though it's designed for patients), but we hope you find it helpful.

Article: Things you can do to help

You might sometimes feel quite helpless when visiting your loved one in Intensive Care, but there's a lot you can do to help him or her. Research tells us that patients will often (but not always) remember your visits, and that family and friends are a real lifeline when trying to make sense of a very strange environment. Speak to him or her: Even when patients are deeply sedated or unconscious, they may well be able to hear and be comforted by a familiar voice. You might not know what...

Web Link: Tissue donation - NHS Blood and Transplant

Tissue donation is slightly different to organ donation. As many as 50 people can be helped by the donation from one person. Donated tissue, such as skin, bones, tendons and heart valves can save or dramatically improve the lives of many people suffering from illness, injury and burns. Tissue donation does not need to take place immediately after death: it can take place 24-48 hours after you die and donation can take place after death in hospital, in hospices, or in funeral homes. ...

Web Link: Treatment planning for seriously ill patients: Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital weblink and videos

Adanced care planning is when you think about and share how you want to be cared for in the future or at the end of your life. It’s good to plan ahead and think about what is important to you if you become very unwell. Let's talk: advanced care planning We know that conversations about planning ahead can be a lot to take in. At Guy's and St Thomas', we aim to improve the experience of patients, carers, staff and the general public by talking about and preparing for...

Web Link: UK Government Information; Personal Independent Payment

This link provides information on Personal Independence Payment (PIP) scheme

Article: Urinary catheters

Urinary catheters – this is a flexible tube that is passed into the bladder to drain urine. It is essential to drain the bladder of urine whilst the patient is sedated and unable to go to the toilet normally. The urine is collected in a clear drainage bag, where the nurse can monitor how much urine is made each hour.

External Article: VA ECMO - The society of thoracic surgeon

VA ECMO explained by the Society of thoracic surgeons

Article: Ventilator or breathing machine

What is a ventilator? The ventilator is also sometimes called a breathing machine or life support machine. The ventilator is a machine that helps the patient to breathe while they are very ill or too sleepy to breathe by themselves e.g. after a general anaesthetic. How does a ventilator work? The ventilator or breathing machine is connected to the patient via a tubing system and a tube that is inserted into the patient's mouth and windpipe (a breathing tube, endotracheal or...