Critical Care & Post-Operative Surveillance

Intensive ICU & HDU Support

Round-the-clock dedicated post-operative cardiac critical care, multi-parameter invasive hemodynamic monitoring, mechanical ventilation weaning, and 1:1 specialized nursing coverage at NICVD.

Care Ratio
1:1 or 1:2 Specialized Cardiac Nursing
Coverage
24/7 Dedicated Cardiac Intensivists & Surgeons
Monitoring
Continuous Arterial Line, CVP & Swan-Ganz
Bedside Lab
Point-of-Care Arterial Blood Gas (ABG) & ACT
24/7 Critical Surveillance

Specialized Post-Operative Cardiac Critical Care Unit

The Post-Operative Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and High Dependency Unit (HDU) at NICVD provide continuous, vigilant surveillance immediately following adult and paediatric open-heart surgeries.

Equipped with advanced mechanical ventilators, invasive arterial lines, multi-channel syringe infusion pumps for inotropic support, and bedside point-of-care blood gas analysis, our unit ensures safe emergence from anesthesia and structured recovery transitions.

Dedicated Post-Operative Intensive Care Unit at NICVD

The specialized Post-Operative Cardiac ICU at the Department of Cardiac Surgery, NICVD.

Critical Infrastructure

Core ICU Capabilities & Protocols

Multidisciplinary critical care protocols engineered for rapid stabilization and early extubation.

Protocol 01

Invasive Hemodynamic Monitoring

Real-time multi-parameter intravascular and intracardiac pressure tracking:

  • Continuous invasive arterial line blood pressure monitoring
  • Central Venous Pressure (CVP) catheter monitoring & fluid optimization
  • Pulmonary artery catheterization (Swan-Ganz) & cardiac output calculation
  • Continuous ST-segment monitoring, pulse oximetry & core temperature surveillance
Protocol 02

Ventilation & Structured Weaning Protocols

Advanced lung-protective ventilation and accelerated weaning pathways:

  • Modern ICU ventilators: Volume Control, Pressure Control, PRVC & PSV modes
  • Structured fast-track weaning criteria for early post-operative extubation
  • Post-extubation High-Flow Nasal Cannula (HFNC) and incentive spirometry
  • Non-Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (BiPAP/CPAP) support
Protocol 03

Point-of-Care ABG & Inotropic Support

Rapid metabolic feedback and micro-titrated cardiovascular drug infusions:

  • Bedside Arterial Blood Gas (ABG): pH, PaO2, PaCO2, lactate & base excess
  • Electrolyte and ionized calcium rapid titration (potassium and magnesium balance)
  • Multi-channel precision syringe pumps for Noradrenaline, Adrenaline & Vasopressin
  • Inodilator therapy: Milrinone and Dobutamine for right and left ventricular support
Protocol 04

Epicardial Pacing & Thoracic Drainage

Rhythm control and continuous mediastinal/pleural drainage management:

  • Temporary dual-chamber external cardiac pacing (atrial, ventricular & DDD modes)
  • Underwater-seal chest drainage with regulated negative-pressure suction
  • Strict hourly chest tube output charting to prevent cardiac tamponade
  • Activated Clotting Time (ACT) monitoring for safe chest drain removal
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