Pediatric intensive care unit
Encyclopedia
A pediatric
intensive care unit (also paediatric), usually abbreviated to PICU , is an area within a hospital
specializing in the care of critically ill infants, children, and teenagers.
A PICU is typically directed by one or more pediatric intensivists or PICU consultants
and staffed by doctor
s and nurses who are specially trained and experienced in pediatric intensive care. The unit may also have nurse practitioner
s, respiratory therapists, physician assistant
s, physiotherapists, social workers, child life specialist
s, and clerks on staff although this varies widely depending on geographic location.
The ratio of professionals to patients is generally higher than in other areas of the hospital, reflecting the acuity of PICU patients and the risk of life-threatening complications. Complex technology and equipment is often in use, particularly mechanical ventilators and patient monitoring systems
. Consequently, PICUs have a larger operating budget than many other departments within the hospital.
Infants were first kept intubated for long periods in the early 1960s. Breathing tubes
made out of polyvinyl chloride
(PVC) allowed clinicians to avoid performing tracheostomy (surgically inserting a tube into the windpipe
) in more children who required prolonged mechanical ventilation
.
Pediatrics
Pediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
intensive care unit (also paediatric), usually abbreviated to PICU , is an area within a hospital
Hospital
A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment by specialized staff and equipment. Hospitals often, but not always, provide for inpatient care or longer-term patient stays....
specializing in the care of critically ill infants, children, and teenagers.
A PICU is typically directed by one or more pediatric intensivists or PICU consultants
Consultant (medicine)
In the United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, and parts of the Commonwealth, consultant is the title of a senior doctor who has completed all of his or her specialist training and been placed on the specialist register in their chosen specialty...
and staffed by doctor
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
s and nurses who are specially trained and experienced in pediatric intensive care. The unit may also have nurse practitioner
Nurse practitioner
A Nurse Practitioner is an Advanced practice registered nurse who has completed graduate-level education . Additional APRN roles include the Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist s, CNMs, and CNSs...
s, respiratory therapists, physician assistant
Physician assistant
A physician assistant/associate ' is a healthcare professional trained and licensed to practice medicine with limited supervision by a physician.-General description:...
s, physiotherapists, social workers, child life specialist
Child life specialist
Child life specialists are pediatric health care professionals who work with patients, their family and others involved in the child’s care in order to help them manage stress and understand medical and various procedures...
s, and clerks on staff although this varies widely depending on geographic location.
The ratio of professionals to patients is generally higher than in other areas of the hospital, reflecting the acuity of PICU patients and the risk of life-threatening complications. Complex technology and equipment is often in use, particularly mechanical ventilators and patient monitoring systems
Medical monitor
A medical monitor or physiological monitor or display, is an electronic medical device used in medical monitoring that displays the monitored data, and may or may not have the ability to transmit the data on a monitoring network...
. Consequently, PICUs have a larger operating budget than many other departments within the hospital.
History
Goran Haglund established the first pediatric intensive care unit, which he called a "pediatric emergency ward", in 1955.Infants were first kept intubated for long periods in the early 1960s. Breathing tubes
Tracheal tube
A tracheal tube is a catheter that is inserted into the trachea in order for the primary purpose of establishing and maintaining a patent airway and to ensure the adequate exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Many different types of tracheal tubes are available, suited for different specific...
made out of polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
(PVC) allowed clinicians to avoid performing tracheostomy (surgically inserting a tube into the windpipe
Vertebrate trachea
In tetrapod anatomy the trachea, or windpipe, is a tube that connects the pharynx or larynx to the lungs, allowing the passage of air. It is lined with pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium cells with goblet cells that produce mucus...
) in more children who required prolonged mechanical ventilation
Mechanical ventilation
In medicine, mechanical ventilation is a method to mechanically assist or replace spontaneous breathing. This may involve a machine called a ventilator or the breathing may be assisted by a physician, respiratory therapist or other suitable person compressing a bag or set of bellows...
.
See also
- Intensive Care UnitIntensive Care Unitthumb|220px|ICU roomAn intensive-care unit , critical-care unit , intensive-therapy unit/intensive-treatment unit is a specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive-care medicine...
- Intensive Care MedicineIntensive care medicineIntensive-care medicine or critical-care medicine is a branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and management of life threatening conditions requiring sophisticated organ support and invasive monitoring.- Overview :...
- Neonatal Intensive Care UnitNeonatal intensive care unitA Neonatal Intensive Care Unit —also called a Special Care Nursery, newborn intensive care unit, intensive care nursery , and special care baby unit —is an intensive care unit specializing in the care of ill or premature newborn infants.The problem of premature and congenitally ill infants is not a...
- PediatricsPediatricsPediatrics or paediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents. A medical practitioner who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician or paediatrician...
- ESPNIC The European Society of Paediatric and Neonatal Intensive Care