Intensive care organisation: Should there be a separate intensive care unit for critically injured patients?
In the last two decennia, the mixed population general intensive care unit (ICU) with a "closed format" setting has gained in favour compared to the specialized critical care units with an "open format" setting. However, there are still questions whether surgical patients benefit from a general mixed ICU. Trauma is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Major or severe trauma requiring immediate surgical intervention and/or intensive care treatment. The role and type of the ICU has received very little attention in the literature when analyzing outcomes from critical injuries. Severely injured patients require the years of experience in complex trauma care that only a surgery/trauma ICU can provide. Should a trauma center have the capability of a separate specialized ICU for trauma patients ("closed format") next to its standard general mixed ICU.
Tim K Timmers, Luke PH Leenen, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Tim K
TK
Timmers
Tim K Timmers, Luke PH Leenen, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Michiel Hj
MH
Verhofstad
Tim K Timmers, Luke PH Leenen, Department of Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Luke Ph
LP
Leenen
Critical care; Intensive care medicine; Intensive trauma care; Trauma; Trauma intensive care