Typical Cases

• Severe Infections (Sepsis): A life-threatening response to infection causing tissue damage, organ failure, and death.
• Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS): Severe lung condition causing difficulty in breathing.
• Multi-Organ Failure: Simultaneous failure of multiple organs, requiring complex and intensive care.
• Post-Operative Care: High-risk surgeries needing intensive monitoring.
• Trauma: Severe physical injuries from accidents or violence.
• Cardiac Arrest: Sudden loss of heart function.

Symptoms and Management

• Sepsis: High fever, chills, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, confusion, and low blood pressure. Managed with antibiotics, intravenous fluids, and medications to maintain blood pressure.
• ARDS: Severe shortness of breath, rapid breathing, low oxygen levels, and sometimes bluish skin. Managed with mechanical ventilation, oxygen therapy, and medications.
• Multi-Organ Failure: Symptoms vary depending on the organs affected, including low urine output, difficulty breathing, jaundice, and altered mental state. Managed with life support systems and medications.
• Post-Operative Care: Monitoring for signs of infection, pain management, and support for breathing and circulation as needed.
• Trauma: Symptoms vary widely; may include severe pain, bleeding, unconsciousness, and fractures. Managed with surgeries, blood transfusions, and intensive monitoring.
• Cardiac Arrest: Sudden collapse, no pulse, no breathing. Managed with immediate CPR, defibrillation, and advanced cardiac life support.

Responsibilities

• Patient Monitoring: Intensivists use advanced technology to continuously monitor vital signs, such as heart rate, blood pressure, oxygen levels, and respiratory rate.
• Life Support Management: They manage life-support systems, including mechanical ventilators, dialysis machines, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).
• Complex Decision Making: Intensivists make rapid, complex decisions about patient care, often in high-stress situations.
• Multidisciplinary Coordination: They collaborate with surgeons, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, and other specialists to provide comprehensive care.
• Family Communication: Intensivists communicate with families, providing updates on the patient’s condition and discussing treatment options and prognosis.

Conditions Treated

• Severe infections and sepsis
• Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
• Multi-organ failure
• Post-operative care for high-risk surgeries
• Trauma and severe injuries
• Cardiac arrest and severe cardiac conditions