The intensive treatment unit has eight beds. Two of the beds are within side-rooms equipped with negative pressure for isolation of infectious cases.
Incorporated within our CCC is a six-bedded high dependency unit. It also serves as a step-down unit from ITU.
ITU is equipped with Drager Evita 4 ventilators, 4 Gambro Prisma Flex haemofilters and 3 Edwards BM 25 haemofilters. Cardiovascular monitoring equipment includes oesophageal Doppler, PICCO and pulmonary artery catheterization with continuous cardiac output measurement. Rotating beds are provided for severe ARDS patients. The Phillips monitoring system also allows for PICCO and BIS and has been networked to allow, for instance, monitoring of a recovery patient from ICU. The hospital has an entirely filmless (PACS) imaging system and the unit is equipped with two high definition monitors for viewing images. Ultrasound-guidance is provided for difficult central lines insertion. Percutaneous tracheostomies are performed in the unit as well as bronchoscopies.
Six consultant intensivists manage the unit, rotating every week, which ensure a good continuity of care. Junior cover is provided by an anaesthetic registrar on the Imperial College rotation and two clinical fellows supported by two F1. At night the ITU is covered by a registrar, as well as the consultant anaesthetist on call.
The unit admits between 500 and 550 patients a year of which 70% are surgical and 75% are ventilated. Among surgical patients, the first cause of admission is postoperative monitoring after planned colorectal surgery. Among medical patients, the first cause of admission is chest infection in COPD patients.
Our current overall mortality rate is 28%, in line with the national average.
We are very happy to discuss the case of our patients with their GP. Please contact 020 8321 5834 to discuss any specific questions you might have.
