Preparation of ICU

Cardiac surgical ICU is generally connected to the operation theatre so that the patient can be wheeled into the ICU after surgery and also to wheel back the patient to operation theatre in case of any post-operative complications such as bleeding or cardiac tamponade.

Preparation of the Unit

Patient's unit is cleaned and carbolised thoroughly.

Special ICU bed and other equipments are also carbolised.

Prepare the bed with sterile sheets.

Keep all the equipments at hand in working order.

Cardiac monitor with all the cables, ventilator with sterile water in humidifier, central suction for endotracheal suction as well as low suction system to connect the chest drainage system, arterial flush system with the transducers set in order, drainage bottleshags for gastric drainage, central oxygen supply for ventilator, IV Poleshangers, syringes, needles, emergency drugs, emergency cart with sterile pack sets to meet any emergency, defibrillator, pacemakers.

Keep ready the flow chart/ICU special charts (each hospital will have their own cardiac surgery ICU charts). This chart is used to maintain the complete records of activities and events in ICU. Hourly inputs of blood, plasma, other colloids and crystalloids administered, hourly urine output, hourly chest drainage in each drainage bottle, hourly gastric drainage, hourly monitoring
of arterial blood gas analysis, mean BP, pulse, heart rate, respiratory rate, serum electrolyte, glucose, urea etc.and medication given and the nurse's notes.