Please also see pages on Visiting, Who's Who and How we work, Equipment in ITU and Counselling and Support
What's the likely outcome?
ITU team will try its best to provide you with some answers. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to accurately predict outcome, particularly in the first hours or days of an ITU stay. Many factors, such as the nature and severity of the underlying illness or injury, must be considered. The patient's age and usual health status also play a role.
There are also some indicators that you can use to help determine the severity of the patient's condition for yourself. While the doctors remain the best possible source of information, use of these indicators will help you put all the other information in better perspective.
Optimistic Indicators:
1. Only one organ failing e.g. being on a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator), but the heart, kidneys and brain are functioning
2. Coming off a breathing machine after only a few days
3. Surviving a cardiac arrest and waking up within 24 hours
Worrying Indicators:
1. Two or more organs failing e.g. being on a breathing machine (mechanical ventilator) and needing dialysis.
2. Staying on a breathing machine for more than three days
3. Surviving a cardiac arrest but not waking up in 24 hours.
4. Blood pressure and/or other vital signs supported by medications for more than 24 hours
While the doctor’s experience and patient’s individual condition are the main elements used to predict outcome, the ITU also use well-accepted, validated, computerised scoring systems. These prediction systems are most accurate when applied to large numbers of ICU patients rather than individual patients.
How long can a patient be kept alive on life support?
That is not something which can be predicted. Depending on many factors, it could be from hours to years. Life support measures partially replace the body's vital functions, but they do not provide a cure for any medical condition. Therefore, life-support measures are unfortunately not appropriate under all situations.
What is Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)?
CPR is the combination of life-saving measures performed to restart the lung (pulmonary) and heart (cardiovascular) functions in a patient who has stopped breathing and/or whose heart has stopped beating (cardiac arrest).
In the ITU, CPR is always performed in case of cardiac arrest, unless:
· All the treatment options have already been exhausted and CPR would not save the patient’s life
· The patient has previously informed the medical team that he/she does not want CPR
After an extensive discussion with the patient and/or their family, the doctors feel CPR would not be in the patient’s best interest. This is done in strict respect of the GMC (General Medical Council) guidance. A written order in the medical record signed by two doctors is required to withhold CPR.
