ICU room or Intensive Care Unit is a special room provided by a hospital to treat patients with conditions that require close supervision. To help restore the patient's condition, the ICU room is equipped with special medical equipment.
While in the ICU, patients will be monitored for 24 hours by specialist doctors, on duty doctors, and competent nurses. To monitor the patient's condition in more detail, the patient will be connected to various medical equipment through a hose or cable.
When should the patient enter the ICU?
When a patient should be admitted to the ICU is unpredictable. However, in most cases, the patient will be referred to the ICU if he is in a coma or in respiratory failure.
Several other conditions that require patients to be admitted to the ICU are:
- Serious accidents, such as burns or severe head injuries
- Treatment to restore the patient's condition after undergoing surgery
- Severe infections, such as pneumonia or sepsis
- Heart attack, stroke or kidney failure
In addition, people who are confirmed to have COVID-19 must also be treated in the ICU, specifically in a special isolation room for COVID-19 patients. This is to prevent transmission of the disease to other people.
Medical Equipment in the ICU Room
For some people, the ICU room feels very scary because it contains a lot of medical equipment that is connected to the patient. Even so, the medical equipment is very helpful in stabilizing the patient's condition.
Some of the medical equipment contained in the ICU room include:
1. Monitor
The monitor will display graphics about the performance of the body's organs, such as heart rate, oxygen levels in the blood, or blood pressure.
2. Ventilator
A ventilator can help the patient breathe. This device is connected to a tube that can be inserted through the nose, mouth, or throat.
3. Defibrillator (heart shock device)
A defibrillator is needed to restore a normal heart rate if the heartbeat suddenly stops. This tool works by sending an electric shock to the heart so that the heart can work again.
4. Feeding hose
Feeding tubes are used to introduce the nutrients the body needs during treatment, if the patient is in a critical condition and cannot feed himself. Usually this tool is inserted through the nose and into the stomach.
5. Infusion
Infusion serves to enter fluids, nutrients, and drugs through the veins.
6. Catheter
Most patients in the ICU cannot urinate on their own. In some patients, the amount of fluid that comes out of the body, including the amount of urine, must also be counted as part of monitoring the patient's condition. Therefore, a catheter is needed that is inserted through the urinary opening to remove urine from the patient's body.
A number of medical equipment in the ICU room above is needed to support patients to survive and recover quickly. Although it may look terrible and risky, the installation of these devices is done based on considerations that will benefit the patient. In addition, patients will also always be under surveillance for 24 hours.
While in the ICU, the patient may be given painkillers and sedatives to make the patient fall asleep. This is done so that patients are not disturbed and restless by sounds and the presence of medical equipment in the ICU.
Special Rules for Visits to the ICU Ruang
The care in the ICU is very tight so that the patient's condition can be monitored properly and the patient can rest in peace. The ICU room is also kept sterile to reduce the risk of infection. Therefore, the following rules are applied:
- Visiting hours to the ICU are generally very limited, as are the number of visitors allowed to visit patients
- Visitors who want to enter the ICU must wash their hands first to prevent transmission of infection. Visitors are also not allowed to bring objects from outside, such as flowers.
In certain conditions, visitors may be allowed to interact directly with patients, even bring certain items that the patient wants in the ICU room. It aims to accompany, comfort, and help psychologically heal patients.
If the patient's condition in the ICU has stabilized, the patient can be transferred to the treatment room for recovery. However, if the patient's condition worsens after discharge, the patient may need to be admitted to the ICU again.
Patients who were discharged from the ICU recovered well. However, during recovery, there may be complaints such as body stiffness and weakness, difficulty sleeping, decreased appetite, and weight loss. If this happens, tell the doctor while he is under control.
If your family or close relatives enter the ICU, it is important to understand that you cannot be by the patient's side all the time. However, it is recommended that you remain on standby for 24 hours outdoors.
Everything that happens in the ICU usually requires a quick decision. These decisions often require family approval before they are made. So, the doctor or nurse will definitely contact the family first.