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Hi, it’s Patrik Hutzel from intensivecarehotline.com with another quick tip for families in intensive care.

So many families in intensive care come to us and they simply want to know what is considered life support in intensive care. So let’s quickly look at this.

So number one form of life support in intensive care is usually a mechanical ventilator, with a breathing tube, or an endotracheal tube in somebody’s throat, where they need mechanical ventilation because they can’t breathe by themselves. Also, mechanical ventilation with a tracheostomy is considered life support as well. If your loved one is on a mechanical ventilator, with a breathing tube or an endotracheal tube they are also in an induced coma with sedation and opiates.

Next form of life support in intensive care is ECMO, also known as bypass machine, which is used for severe heart failure or severe lung failure.

Next form of life support in intensive care is inotropes or vasopressors, that’s actually a medication that goes into a central line. And that’s sustaining a low blood pressure or it’s bringing up blood pressure to sustain life. And sometimes vasodilators bring down high blood pressure, and it’s considered life support as well.

And last but not least, is dialysis or hemodialysis. Sometimes also hemofiltration is considered as life support too. Now all of those forms of life support need intensive care admission, the only form of life support that can be done outside of intensive care of the ones that are mentioned, is the hemodialysis that can be done outside of intensive care.

So that’s my quick tip for today. If you have a loved one in intensive care and you need help, please contact us on one of the numbers on the top of the website at intensivecarehotline.com or send me an email to [email protected].

This is Patrik Hutzel from intensivecarehotline.com and I’ll talk to you in a few days.

Like the video, comment down below and let me know what questions you want to have answered next.

Take care.