Approach to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Abstract

The intensive care unit (ICU) is an area where critically ill and high-risk patients are treated. It is important for healthcare workers to know and understand the function and organization of the unit to better understand critical care. This chapter approaches concepts such as teamwork and system-oriented patient presentations (the bases for the optimal treatment of the critically ill patient). System-oriented rounds are reviewed and consist of a systematic review of the patient that includes major events over the prior 24 h, neurological, cardiovascular, respiratory renal/metabolic, gastrointestinal, infectious, hematological, and nutritional aspects of the patient. This chapter revises also communication and ethical issues in the ICU.