Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)

The PICU is one of the highly facilitated sections in the hospital providing advanced medical care to sick children. It differs from other units by rendering high-level nursing care and constant monitoring of actions such as breathing, blood pressure and heart rate. Children in PICU are provided with intensive therapies including ventilators (breathing aids) and specific medicines that may not be administered in other units of the hospital.

Common Conditions that Increase the Risk of Illness among Children:

Severe infection

Congenital anomalies

Immunological disorders

Food poisoning

Extensive surgery

Overdose of drug

Trauma

Injuries

Who Are Admitted in PICU?

Seriously ill child who requires intensive care and medication that is unavailable in other units.

Kids with serious infections, severe breathing difficulties from asthma, specific heart conditions, diabetes complications, or near-drowning or accidental injuries.

Kids who underwent major surgery require PICU care for some days.

Significant Care Provided in PICU at Nyle Hospital:

IVs – Kids in PICU are given intravenous catheter (IV), a thin, flexible tube injected into the vein through a small needle, for supplying fluids and drugs. Some conditions demand for larger IVs for delivering higher volumes of medicines and fluids.

Medications – Certain drugs that produce dangerous side-effects can be given to kids only in the PICU along with close monitoring. Some medicines are administered continuously through IV drops in the form of drips. For instance, medicines such as dopamine, epinephrine and morphine are given for proper heart function, control of blood pressure and to relieve pain.

Monitors – Inside the PICU, monitors are attached to children to count the breathing and heart rate. A pulse oximetry (pulse-ox) device may be connected to kids for checking blood oxygen levels. A blood pressure cuff may also be applied to the leg or arm for detecting blood pressure.

Tests – Kids who are under the suspect of dreadful disease are kept in PICU for further examination. Blood or urine tests, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test, X-ray, computed tomography (CAT or CT scan), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound are taken to diagnose the cause.

Ventilators – Kids who require additional support to breathe, apart from face mask or nose tubing, are connected to the ventilator inside PICU. This is implemented with a tracheostomy (plastic tube placed in the windpipe directly through the skin) or an endotracheal tube (plastic tube inserted into the windpipe through nose or mouth and connected to the breathing device on the other end). A child may be given pain relief drugs and sedative during this process.

Little patients admitted in PICU are subjected to life-threatening conditions. Hence reliable and advanced medical care provided in PICUs is essential for the survival and complete recovery of children.