ICU Full Form — What is the full form of ICU?

ICU: Intensive Care Unit

Full form of ICU is Intensive Care Unit. ICU is also known as intensive therapy unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU). It is a specialized department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensive care, treatment, and therapy. ICU provides intensive care medicine and life support to patients suffering from a serious injury, illness. The ICU cares for patients who require constant and close monitoring by a team of specialized doctors and nurses.

Patients can be transferred directly from the emergency department or ward to the ICU if needed. This is usually done if the patient’s condition continues to deteriorate. There is a special ICU for babies who are born prematurely or with severe illness. This is called the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The first doctor in ICU was Peter Safar.

What happens when a patient is taken to the ICU?

When a patient is brought to the ICU, it can take more than an hour for doctors and nurses to assess the patient’s condition. It is normal to wait during this time. This can be frustrating but it is important that the ICU staff stabilize the patient. A member of staff will explain what is happening as soon as possible. Necessary facilities are provided to the patient in ICU.

How should we behave in the ICU?

• Hygiene: Since intensive care patients are very vulnerable to infections, it is important that visitors wash their hands before entering the ICU to prevent infection.
• Mobile Phones: Mobile phones should be turned off in the ICU because they can interfere with important electrical equipment.
• Food: Please ask ICUs doctor or nurse before giving any food to patient as some foods may cause health issues.
• Visitor Policy: To ensure the well being of patients there is a visitor policy in every ICU. You will need to ask the ICU hospital staff what time the patient is allowed to visit and the patient’s needs.

Equipments in ICU

The ICU is equipped with various medical equipment, some of which are as follows:

• Mechanical ventilators
• External pacemakers
• Defibrillator
• ECG(Electrocardiogram) Machine
• Anesthesia Machine
• Laryngoscope
• Multiparameter monitor
• Pulse Oximeter
• Transport Ventilator(pneumatic)
• Ventilator (Basic)
• Advanced Ventilator  
• Infusion Pump
• Syringe Pump
• Ophthalmoscope
• Stethoscope
• B.P APPARATUS
• Reverse Osmosis plant (Portable)
• Electronic Weighing Machine
• Continuous renal replacement therapy
• Colour Doppler  for general purpose
• Intra Aortic Balloon Pump
• Non Invasive Cardiac Monitor
• Portable X Ray Machine
• DVT Pumps/leg compression device
• Nebulizer
• Patient warming System Air Warmer
• Pacemaker
• Feed Pump
• Blood Warmer
• Et Co2  Monitor
• Transport Monitor
• Dialysis Machine
• Patient Controlled Anesthesia Pumps
• Mini Doppler
• Suction Machine
• Central Monitor
• Bipap/cpap
• Air bed
• Patient bed motorized
• X ray viewer box
• Cervical collar
• Ambu bag mask set
• Electronic needle destroyer
• Flash autoclave
• Oxygen flow meter
• Suction unit
• Bedpan washer
• Medical Furniture
• ICU pendants
• Feeding tubes, suction tubes etc.

Other full forms of ICU