CRITICAL CARE

Critical care medicine, also known as intensive care medicine, is a specialised field that focuses on the management of life-threatening conditions and organ failure. Critical care physicians, called intensivists, provide comprehensive care in specialised units known as intensive care units (ICUs). They specialise in treating conditions, such as respiratory failure, sepsis, acute kidney injury, trauma, and cardiac arrest. Respiratory failure can be caused by conditions like pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sepsis is a potentially life-threatening condition characterised by a systemic inflammatory response to infection. Acute kidney injury occurs when the kidneys suddenly fail to function properly. Trauma patients with severe injuries require immediate critical care to stabilise their condition. Cardiac arrest is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention to restore normal heart function. In the ICU, critical care physicians utilise advanced medical technologies, monitoring systems, and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver specialised and timely care to patients, with the goal of improving outcomes and saving lives. Critical care medicine plays a crucial role in providing critical support and medical interventions to patients in their most vulnerable and critical state.