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In this section, we've provided some information about everyday patient care, including how we wean patients off the ventilator or breathing machine and how we make sure that they are as comfortable as possible (sedation).
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Personal care includes things like giving bed baths, mouth care,skin care, moving patients in bed and doing gentle exercises to help keep the patient's joints from becoming stiff.Patients receive a bedbath (a complete body wash in bed) at least once a day and whenever else needed. Mouth care is provided every 2 to 3 hours, using soft moist sponges to clean and moisturise the mouth, and vaseline to stop the lips from cracking.The nurse will also change the position of the...
What do physiotherapists do in Intensive Care? Physiotherapy has a very important role in the care and treatment of patients in Intensive Care. There are two main things that the physiotherapist can help with; breathing and exercises. Help with breathing Many patients in Intensive Care need help with their breathing, even if they're not connected to a ventilator or breathing machine. Patients who are not connected to a ventilator or breathing machine may struggle to...
What are "lines"? There are different kinds of "lines" with different uses. Some are used to give patients fluids and medications, most commonly in the small veins in the hand or arms (sometimes called a cannula).Some medication needs to be given via a large vein (where the richer blood supply dilutes it) in the neck or groin (sometimes called a central line). These types of lines are also used to give liquid nutrition (TPN or Total Parenteral Nutrition). Other...
What is sedation? Sedatives are the drugs we give patients to keep them sleepy and comfortable whilst in Intensive Care.They are usually given into a line or drip, directly into the patient's bloodstream. Why are sedatives used in Intensive Care? When a patient is very ill, the body may struggle to cope with the severity of their illness or with some of the things we have to do in order to treat their illness. Being connected to a ventilator or breathing machine via a...
Sepsis is a very severe form of infection.This link will take you to the UK Sepsis Trust. The website provides patients and families with easily understandable information on what sepsis is, the different types, the symptoms, treatements and potential long-term effects.There are personal stories from patients who have survived sepsis and from their family members. They offer an "In Touch" service, which is access to one-to-one support via email or telephone. There is also a...
Sepsis is a very severe form of infection.This link will take you to the UK Sepsis Trust's booklet for patients and family members. It provides easily understandable information on what sepsis is, the different types, the symptoms, treatments and long-term effects.
The Intensive Care Unit can be a very strange and sometimes frightening place for patients, especially if they are starting to become more awake and more aware of their surroundings. Even when patients are unconscious (either due to their illness or the drugs we give them to keep them sleepy and comfortable), it is possible that they can feel and hear what is going on around them.For this reason,the nurses will tell the patient about everything they're doing and why. The...
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.
What is weaning? Weaning is the process through which we gradually reduce the amount of support patients receive from the ventilator or breathing machine.Our aim is to reduce the amount of support the patient receives and take the breathing tube out as soon as it is safe to do so.Research has shown that the sooner we do this, the less chance the patient has of developing a chest infection (called a ventilator associated pneumonia) and the less time they generally spend in Intensive...