The Intensive Care Medicine service portfolio is based on a defined list of conditions that determine appropriate admission to these units:

  • Complicated acute myocardial infarction.
  • Cardiogenic shock.
  • Complex arrhythmias requiring continuous monitoring and intervention.
  • Congestive heart failure with respiratory failure and/or requiring haemodynamic support.
  • Hypertensive emergencies.
  • Unstable angina with haemodynamic instability, arrhythmias or persistent chest pain.
  • Resuscitated cardiac arrest.
  • Cardiac tamponade or constriction with haemodynamic instability.
  • Dissecting aortic aneurysm.
  • Complete AV block or other conduction block requiring a pacemaker.
  • Revascularisation by PTCA (percutaneous coronary angioplasty) or surgery.
  • Acute respiratory failure requiring invasive or non-invasive ventilatory support.
  • Pulmonary embolism with haemodynamic instability.
  • Patients in intermediate care units showing signs of respiratory deterioration.
  • Need for respiratory nursing care that cannot be provided in lower-dependency units.
  • Massive haemoptysis.
  • Respiratory failure with imminent need for intubation.
  • Postoperative or other airway obstruction requiring percutaneous tracheostomy.
  • Stroke with reduced level of consciousness.
  • Coma: metabolic, toxic or anoxic.
  • Intracranial haemorrhage with potential risk of herniation.
  • Acute subarachnoid haemorrhage.
  • Meningitis with altered consciousness or respiratory compromise.
  • CNS or neuromuscular conditions with neurological or respiratory deterioration.
  • Status epilepticus.
  • Brain death or potential brain death in patients being actively managed while donor status is being assessed.
  • Vasospasm.
  • Traumatic brain injury.
  • Drug overdose.
  • Drug ingestion with haemodynamic instability.
  • Drug ingestion with significant alteration of consciousness.
  • Drug ingestion with risk of pulmonary aspiration.
  • Seizures following drug ingestion.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders.
  • Massive gastrointestinal bleeding, including hypotension, angina, uncontrolled bleeding or the presence of comorbid conditions.
  • Fulminant or subfulminant liver failure.
  • Severe acute pancreatitis.
  • Oesophageal perforation with or without mediastinitis.
  • Diabetic ketoacidosis with haemodynamic instability, altered consciousness, respiratory failure, severe acidosis or significant electrolyte disturbances.
  • Thyroid storm or myxoedema coma with haemodynamic instability.
  • Hyperosmolar state with coma or haemodynamic instability.
  • Other endocrine conditions, such as adrenal crisis with circulatory instability.
  • Severe hypercalcaemia with altered consciousness and need for haemodynamic monitoring.
  • Hypo- or hypernatraemia with seizures and altered consciousness.
  • Hypo- or hypermagnesaemia with haemodynamic compromise, altered consciousness, seizures and/or arrhythmias.
  • Hypo- or hyperkalaemia with arrhythmias or severe muscle weakness.
  • Hypophosphataemia with muscle weakness.
  • Postoperative patients requiring haemodynamic monitoring, ventilatory support and intensive nursing care (drains, stomas, etc.).
  • Postoperative care following complex interventional radiology or endoscopy procedures.
  • Plasmapheresis.
  • Ultrafiltration.
  • Haemodialysis.
  • Septic shock.
  • Haemodynamic monitoring.