Consult Intensivists Online - Critical Care Specialists

Who is a critical care doctor?

A critical care doctor is a medical physician who specialises in diagnosing, treating, and monitoring patients suffering from critical illnesses. They are also known as intensivists as they help in monitoring and supporting patients in intensive care units. In addition, they also team up to work with primary physicians from other specialties to improve patient survival by providing life-sustaining therapies. 

What conditions need critical care? 

Life-threatening illnesses or sudden injuries require critical care such as:

• Severe burns 
• Head injuries
• Severe bleeding 
• Gunshot wounds 
• Sepsis (blood infection)
• Respiratory failure 
• Heart attack
• Strokes 
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure
• Preterm deliveries 
• Major post-surgical recoveries 
• Severe Covid-19 infections
• Cancers
• Paralysis

Why do newborn babies need critical care? 

To prevent unwanted infections, most newborn babies born before 36-weeks of gestation with health complications may need critical care in special neonatal intensive care units (NICU). NICUs are well-equipped with advanced technology and provide a stable environment for preterm babies to grow. 

What is meant by critical obstetric care?

Critical obstetric care is a branch of medicine that deals with maternal health care during childbirth and post-delivery. It is associated with managing many life-threatening pregnancy-related conditions such as mass haemorrhage and uncontrolled high blood pressure, requiring critical obstetric care by physicians. 

What do pediatric critical care doctors do? 

Pediatric critical care doctors diagnose and treat critically ill infants from birth to adolescents with the highest level of medical care. They also help in managing post-surgical conditions in children and provide therapies for faster recovery. 

What is pulmonary critical care? 

Pulmonary critical care is a branch of medicine that deals with pulmonary diseases and severe respiratory system infections. It is associated with managing conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pneumonia, lung cancer, and cystic fibrosis by critical care physicians.  

Roles and responsibilities of critical care doctors 

Critical care doctors are responsible for evaluating, diagnosing, treating, and monitoring patients suffering from life-threatening critical illnesses such as cancer, strokes, paralysis, and organ transplants.

Some of the roles and responsibilities of critical care doctors are as follows:

• Diagnosing medical conditions of patients.
• Treating severe immune system reactions resulting from severe infections such as sepsis. 
• Specifying appropriate treatments and medications for all patients with severe trauma.
• Supervising patients with respiratory failure, liver failure, and kidney failure.
• Managing neonatal and postpartum maternal health complications.
• Help patients recover from intoxication and poisoning. 

What are the services provided by an intensive care specialist?

An intensive care specialist diagnoses and treats clinically complicated conditions. The services range from investigating to managing life-threatening medical conditions such as heart diseases, respiratory disorders, kidney diseases, and liver failures. 

Some of the duties an intensivist perform are as follows:

• Referring critically ill patients for special investigations and advising appropriate treatment plans. 
• Aiding in mechanical ventilation to assist breathing. 
• Administering particular medications such as inotropes (to stimulate the heart) and vasopressors (to reduce high blood pressure).
• Using devices in intensive care units to measure cardiac outputs. 
• Providing dialysis to patients with chronic kidney diseases.
• Assessing and monitoring patients round the clock to ensure recovery.
• Coordinating with a team of experts to treat accidental injuries and severe burns.
• Counselling the patients and their families to make correct decisions.

Are emergency medicine doctors and critical care doctors the same? 

Emergency medicine doctors treat patients with acute illnesses, including asthma, fractures, and minor injuries. In comparison, critical care doctors are specially trained to care for critically ill (very sick) patients who require round-the-clock supervision in intensive care units. 

What units fall under critical care? 

• Hospitals have special units apart from ICU that fall under critical care units:
• Coronary Intensive Care Unit (CCU or CICU) for heart disease
• Neuroscience Critical Care Unit (NCCU)
• Shock/Trauma Intensive-Care Unit (STICU)
• Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)
• Overnight Intensive-Recovery (OIR)
• Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)
• Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
• Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)
• ICU in the emergency department (E-ICU)

Where to find a critical care doctor?

You can easily consult a critical care doctor online using the Apollo 24|7 app or website. The online healthcare platform aims to connect you to the best critical care specialists who can help you manage and treat various medical conditions. Book an appointment from the comfort of your home and get an online consultation using the Apollo 24|7 app or website.