What is intensive care medicine?
Intensive care medicine is an indispensable part of acute medicine. It treats people whose lives are acutely threatened by a serious illness, an accident or major surgery. In the intensive care unit, vital organ functions are continuously monitored and – where necessary – temporarily supported or replaced.
Although intensive care involves highly sophisticated equipment, it is far more than simply ‘machine-based medicine’. The focus is always on critically ill patients and their needs.
The aim of intensive care treatment
The aim of any intensive care treatment is to stabilise the life-threatening condition. Once the patient’s condition has stabilised, they can continue to recover and convalesce on the general ward.
What happens in the intensive care unit
Our team monitors the vital organ functions of seriously ill or injured patients around the clock. Organs that are not functioning properly receive targeted treatment, or their function is temporarily taken over. In acute emergencies, we carry out life-saving emergency procedures and resuscitation.
Prevention is just as important: early detection of complications can prevent long-term damage. As intensive care is often characterised by fear, pain and uncertainty, we also provide compassionate support to patients and their families. We are there for you, especially in difficult situations, right up to the end of life.
Intensive care is demanding teamwork
A high number of specially trained intensive care staff ensures seamless care and the highest level of safety. This gives critically ill patients the best chance of making a full recovery.
The success of treatment depends largely on effective teamwork. Doctors work closely with nursing staff and collaborate across professional boundaries with other specialist groups. These include consultant specialists as well as professionals from physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, nutritional counselling and pharmacy.
Core tasks of intensive care medicine
- Continuous monitoring and stabilisation of vital organ functions in critically ill or seriously injured patients, as well as following complex surgical procedures.
- Therapy, support or complete takeover of failing organ functions, including ventilation, circulatory support, renal replacement therapy and advanced haemodynamic monitoring.
- Implementation of life-saving emergency measures and structured resuscitation protocols in accordance with international standards.
- Prevention of complications and long-term damage through early detection of clinical changes, infection prevention, thrombosis prophylaxis and structured delirium prevention.
- Holistic support in stressful situations characterised by anxiety, pain, dependence and the process of dying – including palliative care.
- Early rehabilitation and mobilisation to prevent loss of function and promote recovery.
- Involvement and support for relatives, including structured communication, information provision and involvement in decision-making processes.
- Delirium management in accordance with current guidelines (e.g. CAM-ICU, non-pharmacological prevention)
- Pain management, sedation and weaning protocols to standardise treatment
- Family-centred care, e.g. flexible visiting hours, integration of relatives
- Ethical support for complex treatment decisions
- Outcome-oriented quality indicators, e.g. duration of ventilation, infection rates, quality of resuscitation
Why choose Zuger Kantonsspital?
As a networked acute hospital, Zuger Kantonsspital combines modern intensive care with direct access to all specialist disciplines. The intensive care unit at Zuger Kantonsspital is certified by the Swiss Society for Intensive Care Medicine (SGI). We have 8 beds in the intensive care unit and treat around 800 patients each year.