Introduction
Hello, my name is Dr. Ganesh Badge, Pediatric Intensivist at Sahyadri Hospital, Hadapsar, Pune. Today, I will discuss a very important subject: the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) that we have established here at Sahyadri Hospital, Hadapsar.
What is the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)?
The PICU is a specialized area where we care for very sick children. This unit is different from adult ICUs and neonatal ICUs. In our PICU, we provide care and treatment for children from one month old up to 18 years old. Children are usually admitted to the PICU from the ward, emergency room, or through referrals.
Facilities and Treatments in the PICU
Respiratory Issues:
Children often come to us with breathing difficulties, fast breathing, or low oxygen levels. We provide various modalities of oxygen therapy, including simple masks, high-flow oxygen, invasive, and non-invasive ventilation for respiratory failure.
Severe Sepsis:
Another common emergency is severe sepsis and septic shock, where children have low blood pressure or other infections like Dengue Shock Syndrome. We provide comprehensive treatment for these conditions.
Post-Surgery Care:
We offer pain management and care for patients after surgery.
Trauma Care:
We treat common emergencies like trauma, polytrauma, and neuro trauma with the support of our multidisciplinary team, including surgeons, neurosurgeons, neurologists, and pediatric endocrinologists.
Organ Failure:
Our unit also handles cases of organ failure, such as liver failure and kidney failure, by collaborating with specialists in these fields.
Toxins and Poisoning:
We treat cases of poisoning, metabolic emergencies like hypoglycemia, and inborn errors of metabolism.
Special Features of Our PICU
Parental Presence:
We allow parents to stay with their children as much as possible to reduce the child’s anxiety and stress.
Child-Friendly Environment:
We maintain a playful and suitable environment for our young patients.
Trained Staff:
Our doctors and nursing staff are specifically trained in pediatric intensive care.