Jr. Intensivist ICU Department

• assessment, monitoring and review of patients with or at risk of developing critical illness • provision of organ system support, including: • use of inotropes (drugs that stimulate the heart) and vasopressors (drugs that raise reduced blood pressure) • mechanical ventilation – using a machine known as a ventilator to assist breathing • invasive monitoring, including arterial cannulation where a tube known as a cannula is inserted into a blood vessel, usually for the delivery or removal of fluids • endotracheal intubation – a flexible tube is inserted through the nose or mouth into the trachea for artificial ventilation or for the administration of gases during anaesthesia • percutaneous dilatational tracheostomy – a minimally invasive procedure where the trachea (wind-pipe) is opened from the front of the neck to enable air to be passed into the lower air passages • measurement of cardiac (heart) output • renal (kidney) support using haemodialysis or hemofiltration (techniques used to ‘purify’ the blood of patients with kidney failure • transfer of critically ill patients for specialist investigations and interventions such as CT scans