RESPIRATORY INTENSIVE CARE UNIT- A NEED OF THE HOUR

BACKGROUND A respiratory intensive care unit (RICU) is a designated area specially designed for management of patients with acute respiratory conditions with an essential endeavour of meticulous cardiorespiratory monitoring and holistic management of acute respiratory conditions. Availability of ventilation thorough the non-invasive mode (NIV) has revolutionised therapy in chronic respiratory diseases. METHODS We analysed the data of 50 patients over two-months’ duration. The mean duration of stay and treatment outcomes were analysed. The qualitative data was analysed using percentages and mean. Chi-Square test was used for statistical analysis. RESULTS Study sample was of 50 patients out of which 26 were men and 24 were women. The indications for hospitalisation were classified as per aetiology as COPD- 29 (58%), ILD- 6 (12%), parenchymal diseases- 5 (10%), pleural diseases- 4 (8%), malignancy- 3 (6%), others- 3 (6%). The patients were further classified into; 21 (42%) with type I respiratory failure and 29 (58%) with type II respiratory failure. Of the total 50; one-third (18) required only oxygen therapy and two-third (32) mechanical ventilation (25 NIV and 7 IMV). The mode of ventilation impacted outcomes significantly with oxygen therapy and NIV having very good outcomes (Chi Square test; p-value is 0.000838). CONCLUSIONS RICU is the need of the hour to manage patients with critical respiratory illnesses.