Babies are admitted to the NICU for a variety of conditions. The most common is prematurity. A premature baby is a baby born too early- usually weeks or months before the expected due date. A premature baby is small but more significantly their internal organs are not ready to function in the extrauterine world. Premature babies often need the technologic assistance available in the NICU to help with breathing, keeping warm and gaining weight. The technology available in the NICU attempts to support the infant’s bodily functions while the baby grows and matures. Another reason for admission to the NICU is a baby with a congenital or genetic condition that is evident at birth. These conditions include genetic syndromes such as trisomy 21 or trisomy 18, congenital heart disease, neural tube disorders including spina bifida, cleft palate, limb malformations and others. A third reason for admitting a baby to the NICU is following a difficult birth. Following a long or intense labor or a difficult delivery, the baby may need support making the transition to extrauterine existence or the baby may have aspirated meconium or sustained an injury such as a fractured clavicle or nerve compression during the birth process. A fourth group is babies who at the time of birth or shortly after birth show signs of illness or a condition that would benefit from the special care available in the NICU. These illnesses and conditions include: infection or sepsis, tachypnea, hypoglycemia, jaundice, imperforated anus, and others. In general any newborn who needs close observation or special care is a candidate for admission to the NICU.
Children In Critical Care
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Los Robles Regional Medical Center answeredSee All 2 Answers
Informing your pediatrician before a trip to the emergency room will give the trauma team a heads up, says Lynn Tadlock, RN, of Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center. In this video, she explains the importance of communication with the pediatrician.
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Why Should I Tell My Pediatrician I'm Taking My Child to the Hospital?
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Kids who are sick in the hospital can be picky eaters, and dietitians are there to help. In this video, Crystal Robertson, a registered dietitian at Riverside Community Hospital, describes how dietitians help kids find things they can enjoy eating. -
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A child will be treated in the emergency room (ER) if unaccompanied by an adult. Life-saving evaluation and treatment will be performed even if the parent or guardian is not present. Every attempt is made to contact the parents as quickly as possible to inform them of their child’s condition and obtain consent for treatment. Less emergent evaluation and treatment is typically delayed until the parent or guardian can be reached for consent. Certain conditions may not require parental consent for treatment, such as psychiatric illness, substance abuse or birth control.
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MRSA or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus is a “super bug” bacteria that is no longer affected by some of our more common antibiotics, specifically beta-lactams. Because MRSA is resistant to a number of different antibiotics, it can be harder to treat than non-resistant bacteria. However, MRSA is not resistant to EVERY antibiotic and all strains of MRSA can still be treated. Treatment should be tailored to the type and location of the specific infection. Children in the ICU are given effective antibiotics and placed in isolation to prevent spreading the bacteria. -
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There are pediatricians with board certification in "Intensive Care Pediatrics", but many pediatricians typically work in the ICU if their experience qualifies them. Nephrology, Cardiology, Pulmonology and Hematology/Oncology specialists aften work in ICUs.
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Tracheostomies in children are usually done by an ENT (ear, nose and throat specialist) who is asked by the critical care team to provide a more secure and long-lasting airway. Tracheostomies allow air to skip a damaged upper airway by creating a tunnel through the front of the neck into the trachea. Almost all children in the ICU will NEVER need a tracheostomy. However, if they do need a tracheostomy, the ENT will become part of their critical care team.
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Joane Goodroe , Nursing, answeredThe following is a list of some of some childhood lung diseases that may require critical care:
- Uncontrolled asthma
- Cystic fibrosis (CF)
- Chronic lung disease from birth
- Advanced muscular dystrophy impairing the lungs
- Respiratory infections including pneumonia
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Joane Goodroe , Nursing, answered
Critical care for children is the same as the "intensive care unit" for adults. The staff is specially trained to take care of children who are in critical condition due to a surgery, an accident, a disease or other condition that requires very intense level of medications, therapies and monitoring. These are very special units with staff that have excellent training and skills.
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See All 2 AnswersCritical care treatment is typically best provided in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Depending on the illness/injury that occurs, treatment may begin in an Emergency Department, but this is mainly done to diagnosis the problem and stabilize any life-threatening conditions. All Emergency Departments can accept both children and adults; however, the Emergency Departments found in a pediatric/children's hospital focus primarily on children.
After the Emergency Department has managed any life-threatening illnesses/injuries, if critical care treatment is required, the child will be transferred to an ICU. Ideally, children will move to a Pediatric ICU. If it is a children's hospital, there may be two types of ICU's...a PICU (Pediatric ICU) and a CICU (Cardiac ICU). Because children with heart problems require very specialized care, a separate unit for cardiac care has been created in many children's hospitals where the nurses and doctors have received additional, specialized training in this area. If not heart condition is present, the PICU will be the best place for your child.
If your child is less than a week old or born prematurely, the NICU (Neonatal ICU) may be the best place for him/her.