The Intensive Care Unit (ICU) is a highly specialized area dedicated to the care of critically ill patients, characterized by instability of vital functions and the need for continuous monitoring and advanced treatments.
The unit’s activity focuses on the management of major organ failure conditions, including acute respiratory failure, shock of various etiologies (septic, cardiogenic, hemorrhagic), severe infections, postoperative complications, and cardiac arrest. The ICU also admits surgical patients requiring intensive postoperative monitoring, ensuring highly qualified care during the most delicate phases of the perioperative course. Patients are supported through advanced life-support technologies, such as invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation, continuous hemodynamic monitoring, and organ replacement therapies, including hemodialysis.
As part of its diagnostic and therapeutic activities, the unit also performs diagnostic fiberoptic bronchoscopy procedures, which are essential for evaluating acute respiratory conditions and optimizing the clinical management of critically ill patients.
The multidisciplinary team, composed of anesthesiologists-intensivists and highly qualified nursing staff, provides continuous 24/7 care based on the most up-to-date scientific evidence and shared protocols. Particular attention is given to personalized care, patient safety, and the prevention of hospital-related complications.
The ICU plays a central role in the management of in-hospital emergencies through the Medical Emergency Team (MET), responding promptly in inpatient wards and all non-critical care areas of the hospital in cases of acute clinical deterioration. The team also provides specialist consultation in inpatient wards and in the Emergency Department, contributing to the early assessment of critically ill patients and ensuring appropriate care pathways.
The unit’s staff is actively involved in the development and implementation of hospital-wide antibiotic stewardship policies, with the aim of optimizing antibiotic use and combating the development of bacterial resistance. In addition, the ICU serves as a reference center for training healthcare personnel in both basic and advanced cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Particular attention is given to communication with patients’ families: a dedicated daily time is scheduled for meetings with physicians to ensure clear and up-to-date information on patients’ clinical progress. Family access to the unit is allowed daily, according to defined organizational procedures, in compliance with care requirements and safety standards. The ICU works in close collaboration with all hospital departments, ensuring continuity of care both at admission (emergency department, operating room) and during discharge to lower-intensity care settings.
Alongside clinical activity, the ICU is engaged in ongoing training and professional development of healthcare staff, as well as in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
