The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at The Valley Hospital is a unit dedicated to the care of patients with critical cardiac illness. The team is comprised of physicians trained in cardiac critical care, physician assistants, nurse practitioners and nurses. They specialize in the management of cardiac illnesses such as congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and cardiogenic shock. The team also cares for patients recovering from heart surgery and for patients whose hearts are supported by mechanical pumps.
In the CICU, the team uses various procedures to monitor and treat patients. Some of these procedures are invasive, such as arterial lines to monitor a patient's blood pressure, central lines to deliver intravenous medications, and Swan Ganz catheters to monitor pressures in the heart. When possible, the team tries to manage patients without invasive procedures. Often, bedside ultrasound is used to evaluate a patient's heart and lungs to guide decision-making.
Beyond the medical interventions performed, the CICU team strives to keep the patient and their family members informed of the care they are receiving. It is important to understand a patient's personal wishes, and there is a shared decision-making process regarding their treatment. The team is always available to patients and family members to support them while they are in the Cardiac ICU.
The Cardiac ICU is located on the fourth floor in the north tower of the hospital.
