What You Will See When You Enter the Critical Care Center

Your loved one will be in a private room with many different pieces of equipment. You will find that they may have many tubes and lines in place while in critical care. Some patients may have very few. Most of these are temporary and will be removed when they are no longer needed.

PLEASE be aware that there are many different beeps, buzzes and alarms creating different noises in the Critical Care Center. The nurses and other team members know these alarms. Each piece of equipment has its own alarm telling the nurse what is happening.

ARTERIAL LINE (Art Lines)
This is a small hollow (thin tube) that is inserted directly into the artery (usually in the arm). The line is attached to the monitor and is used to continuously monitor blood pressure.

BLOOD PRESSURE CUFF (BP Cuff)
A cuff will be placed on your loved one's arm or leg. This will be automatically inflated as needed. The blood pressure is recorded on the monitor in each room.

CHEST TUBES
These are tubes that assist with the drainage of air or fluid from around the lungs. Removing this fluid and air from around the lungs allows them to expand fully. Chest tubes drain into a large plastic container near the foot of the patient's bed. There can be one or more of these tubes in place.

COOLING BLANKET or WARMING BLANKET
Depending on the situation we can either warm or cool the patient as needed using a blanket under or on top of the patient.

ENDOTRACHEAL TUBE (ET TUBE)
This is the special tube that is inserted through the mouth or nose. It passes down the throat and into the air passages to help breathing. Your loved one cannot speak with this tube because the tube has passed through the vocal chords. This is the tube that connects the respirator to your loved one. When this tube is in place you will find that your loved one may have their wrists tied down (restrained). This is necessary to protect the tube from being accidentally removed. It is vital to enusure that this tube is not pulled out. Please do not remove these restraints without the nurse's permission and please do not leave the bedsite without the patient being restrained correctly.

FEEDING TUBES AND PUMP
Some patients may not be able to eat in the usual manner. These individuals may require feeding tubes to provide their nutrition. It is important for the body to receive nutrition to heal. These tubes can be placed in the nose to the stomach, or the mouth to the stomach. The feeding pump delivers the liquid feedings.

FOLEY CATHETER
This is a drainage tube which is placed into the bladder. It allows urine to drain continuously into a plastic bag hanging low by the foot of the bed. This is how we monitor how much urine is produced.

HEART MONITOR
The bedside monitor looks like a TV screen with continuously displayed wave forms. It is attached to your loved one's chest with sticky pads. From this monitor, the heart rate, rhythm, blood pressure, oxygenation, as well as other values are monitored. This monitor screen can be viewed at the nurse's station. We can also view any monitor from any room. All patients in the critical care area have a heart monitor.

IV (INTRAVENOUS) AND PUMP
A small plastic hollow needle is inserted into the vein. This is how fluid and medication are directly delivered to your loved one. The pump regulates the rate and amount of fluids/medications your loved one receives.

OXYGEN
Many critical care patients require oxygen. This is delivered in many different ways.

Nasal cannula: small tubes that fit in the nose and go over the ears

Mask: this is used to deliver higher levels of oxygen.

Bipap: a tightly fitted mask covering the nose and mouth that delivers highly pressurized oxygen.

NASOGASTRIC TUBE (NG)
This is a tube that is inserted through the nose into the stomach. It can be attached to suction to remove gastric secretions. It can also be used to put liquid food into the stomach.

PULSE OXIMETER/OXYGEN SATURATION MONITOR (Sat monitor)
This measures the oxygen in the blood and the patient's pulse by using a small probe which is attached to a finger or ear.

RESTRAINTS
Soft wrist and sometimes ankle restraints are used to protect patients from removing equipment or from hurting themselves. They are applied for patient safety. Please do not remove or loosen them without permission of the nurse.

SEQUENTIAL COMPRESSION DEVISES (SCD)
These are stockings which inflate and deflate with air. They mimic the muscle action of walking and increase the circulation in the patient's legs. This is important when the patient is not moving and unable to get out of bed. You will hear the quiet pumping action of the machine.

SUCTION TUBES
It may be necessary to suction fluids from the mouth or lungs. When your loved one is suctioned they will cough. Coughing helps to clear away fluids.

TED HOSE
These are anti-embolic stockings. Tight knee or thigh-high stockings support the leg muscles and help prevent pooling of blood in veins of the legs.

THE BED
The beds used in the critical care area are special beds. They continously adjust pressure points and are able to be placed in multiple positions. Please do not adjust the head of the bed, the level of the bed, or lower the siderails without checking with the nurse.

TRACHEOSTOMY TUBE (Trach)
This is a breathing tube inserted into the neck usually when the patient has been on a ventilator. Under special circumstances, it is possible to eat and talk with this tube.

VENTILATORS/RESPIRATORS (Vents) (sometimes known as life support machines):
These provide oxygen and support the lungs in breathing. To be on the ventilator one must have a special tube inserted which passes through the vocal cords into the main breathing passage. They will not be able to speak to you when this tube is in place.

There are many other lines, tubes, and pieces of equipment used in the critical care area. Please ask your nurse if you see something that you do not understand or is new in the room. He or she will be happy to answer your questions.