What kinds of patients do critical care anesthesiologists treat?

Critical care anesthesiologists care for patients who have had recent major surgery or who suffer from the effects of severe infections or trauma.

At Yale Medicine such patients may be admitted into these intensive care units (ICUs):

Cardiac Surgical ICU: Provides care for cardiac surgical patients (for example, patients who have undergone valve surgery or coronary bypass surgery).

General Surgical ICU:Provides care for general surgical patients (for example, patients with severe trauma, and patients who have undergone major chest, abdominal or orthopedic surgery).

What standard care protocols do critical care anesthesiologists follow?

Patients admitted to the ICU will typically have an intravenous (I.V.) line with saline solution connected to them so that they stay hydrated. Patients are also fitted with devices that continuously monitor such standard vital signs as:

• Electrical activity of the heart
• Blood oxygen saturation
• Blood pressure
• Respiratory rate
• Heart rate

What major decisions can a patient expect to make when admitted to the ICU?

Before surgeries that require an anesthetic, the patient undergoes a diagnostic assessment to determine his or her ability to survive the stress of the surgery and anesthesia. There is also a discussion of the surgical and anesthetic plans. In the ICU, the patient (and often the family) may expect a conversation on end-of-life questions if the physician determines that:

• The patient is critically ill and dying or close to death.
• It is likely that the patient may have to be resuscitated.
• The patient can live, but only aided by machines and with great suffering.