The Breath Of Resilience - Ventilators As The Silent Maestros Of Critical Care
Dr. Dipankar Sarkar
3 Min Read
Nov 18, 2023
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Manipal Hospitals' is one of India's leading multi-specialty healthcare providers. The ICU & Critical care department is at the core of many life saving treatments. Patients are monitored round the clock in sterile, infection safe environments by highly trained physicians, specialist nurses, respiratory therapists, counsellors and a number of specialists that are on call to assist with emergency situations
The ICU & critical care units at Manipal Hospitals are staffed with a multidisciplinary team doctors that are capable of administering life saving treatment across a number of different branches of medicine. The ICU facilities are routinely sterilised to prevent patients from contracting infections. The monitoring systems are state of the art and provide the first level of diagnostic screening for patients in an emergency. In a time critical situation, the doctors at the ICU & critical care unit do a preliminary diagnosis that puts each case in the hands of a specialist who will take the treatment forward. The nursing team of the intensive care unit is specially trained to respond to an intensive care atmosphere to support patients with immediate response times
In some cases, when a patient's airways are restricted, an emergency tracheostomy is performed to allow a tube to go directly from a ventilator to the patient's windpipe through a precise incision on the neck. The procedure allows the patient to breathe while other diagnostic approaches and treatments are considered.
Manipal Hospitals' intensive care units are equipped for round the clock care for a number of different scenarios where a patient needs to be continuously monitored. Patients are usually moved to the ICU from emergency wards or from the general ward if their condition is no longer considered stable. Here are some conditions that commonly require critical care:
- Heart ailments
- Lung ailments
- Drug-resistant infections
- Organ failure
- Blood infections
- Brain trauma
Critical care facilities available at Manipal Hospitals are: - Severe injury (burns, road accidents etc.) Specialist intensive care units - Coronary care unit - Surgical intensive care unit - Neonatal intensive care unit - Pediatric intensive care unit - Neurological Intensive Care Unit - Post-anesthesia care unit - High dependency unit - Psychiatric intensive care unit ICU facilities - Respirators/ventilator - Cardiac monitors (heart rate, BP) - IV drips - Sedatives & Anaesthetics (for severe pain) - Defibrillator (to restart the heart) - Emergency tracheostomy (for respiratory emergencies)
A patient is connected to a heart monitor, given IV drips and critical body functions are monitored round the clock by a team of specialist nurses. While the patient is being given the utmost attention, the team of doctors responsible for the patient to administer the necessary treatments at the right intervals. If the patient is suffering from an undiagnosed illness, the ICU keeps them stable until the right diagnosis and treatment is found.
Usually, patients coming into the ICU come in either from the emergency ward to recover post-surgery or from the general ward when they become critically ill. ICU's are heavily staffed units that usually have a nurse to patient ratio of 1:2 and sometimes, 1:1. This is to ensure that the patient is getting all the attention that is needed while they recover.
The medical staff on call is equipped to perform emergency life-saving treatment like a tracheostomy, lung reinflation, etc. at a moment's notice, to ensure that the patient suffers as little as possible from a treatable condition.
Depending on the patient's condition, the typical ICU stay duration is usually between 2 to 7 days. Longer stays may be needed for patients that have undergone procedures during their ICU stay.
Getting a regular checkup can help detect health complications before they rise in severity, making healthcare more effective.
Manipal Hospitals is dedicated to providing comprehensive round the clock treatment to all of its patients. The equipment and staffing ratios at the ICU & critical care department are a reflection of this commitment to quality healthcare.
Contact us to know more about our intensive care units and book an appointment with one of our medical specialists today!
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