Intensive care unit (ICU)—when to involve

Abstract

A close relationship should exist between the respiratory service and the ITU. The respiratory unit will need ITU expertise when patients deteriorate and need close monitoring or invasive ventilation; conversely, ITU will call upon the respiratory services when patients take longer to wean from invasive ventilation, usually via tracheostomy. This short chapter provides guidance on liaising with the ITU for help and details the use of the recent National Early Warning Score for assessing if patients need high dependency, or intensive care, involvement.