A coronary care unit (CCU) is a hospital ward specialized in the care of patients with heart attacks, unstable angina and (in practice) various other cardiac conditions that require continuous monitoring and treatment. A patient is any person who receives medical attention care or treatment. Myocardial infarction ( MI or AMI for acute myocardial infarction) also known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply Angina pectoris, commonly known as angina, is severe Chest pain due to Ischemia (a lack of blood and hence Oxygen supply of the heart
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Characteristics
The main feature of coronary care is the availability of telemetry or the continuous monitoring of the cardiac rhythm by electrocardiography. Telemetry (synonymous with Telematics) is a Technology that allows the remote measurement and reporting of Information of interest to the system designer This allows early intervention with medication, cardioversion or defibrillation, improving the prognosis. Medication, also referred to as medicine, can be loosely defined as any substance intended for use in the diagnosis cure mitigation treatment or prevention of disease Synchronized electrical cardioversion is the process by which an abnormally fast Heart rate or Cardiac arrhythmia is terminated by the delivery of a therapeutic dose Defibrillation is the definitive treatment for the life-threatening Cardiac arrhythmias Ventricular fibrillation and Ventricular tachycardia. As arrhythmias are relatively common in this group, patients with myocardial infarction or unstable angina are routinely admitted to the coronary care unit. Dysrhythmia redirects here For the American band see Dysrhythmia (band. For other indications, such as atrial fibrillation, a specific indication is generally necessary, while for others, such as heart block, coronary care unit admission is standard. Atrial fibrillation ( AF or afib) is a Cardiac arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm that involves the two upper chambers ( atria) of the Heart A heart block is a disease in the electrical system of the Heart.
Local differences
In the United States, coronary care units are usually subsets of intensive care units (ICU) dedicated to the care of critically ill cardiac patients. An intensive care unit (ICU critical care unit (CCU intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU is a specialized department used in These units are usually present in hospitals that routine engage in cardiothoracic surgery. Invasive monitoring such as with pulmonary artery catheters is common, as are supportive modalities such as mechanical ventilation and intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP). In Medicine pulmonary artery catheterization (PAC is the insertion of a Catheter into a Pulmonary artery. In Medicine, mechanical ventilation is a method to mechanically assist or replace spontaneous breathing when patients cannot do so on their own The Intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP is a mechanical device that is used to decrease myocardial oxygen demand while at the same time increasing Cardiac output.
Certain hospitals, such as Johns Hopkins [1], maintain mixed units consisting of both Acute care units for the critically ill, and intermediate care units for patients who are not critical.
Acute coronary care
Acute coronary care units (ACCU), also called "critical coronary care units" (CCCU) is equivalent to intensive care in the level of service provided. Patients with acute myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, or post-operative "open-heart" patients commonly abide here. Cardiogenic shock is based upon an inadequate circulation of Blood due to primary failure of the ventricles of the Heart to function effectively
Subacute coronary care
Subacute coronary care units (SCCU), also called Progressive care units (PCU), Intermediate coronary care units (ICCU), or stepdown units, and provide a level of care intermediate to that of the intensive care unit and that of the general medical floor. These units typically serve patients who require cardiac telemetry such as those with unstable angina. Angina pectoris, commonly known as angina, is severe Chest pain due to Ischemia (a lack of blood and hence Oxygen supply of the heart
History
Coronary care units developed in the 1960s when it became clear that close monitoring by specially trained staff, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and medical measures could reduce the mortality from complications of cardiovascular disease. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 The first description of a CCU was given in 1961 to the British Thoracic Society, and early CCUs were located in Sydney, Kansas and Philadelphia. The British Thoracic Society (BTS is a specialist medical society in the United Kingdom in the field of respiratory medicine. Sydney (ˈsɪdniː is the most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 4 Kansas ( is a Midwestern state in the central region of the United States of America, an area often referred to as the American " Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə Studies published in 1967 revealed that those observed in a coronary care setting had consistently better outcomes (Mehta & Khan 2002). The first coronary care unit was developed by Dr Robert MacMillan and Dr Ken Brown at Toronto General Hospital.
References
- Mehta NJ, Khan IA. Cardiology's 10 greatest discoveries of the 20th century. Tex Heart Inst J 2002;29:164-71. PMID 12224718.
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