Critical Care Services

Some of the more common critical care conditions we treat in the Fletcher Allen Pediatric Intensive Care Unit include dehydration and respiratory illness. We also treat many serious conditions such as infections, trauma and seizures.

Dehydration

Dehydration occurs when a child’s body lacks enough fluid. It can result from vomiting, diarrhea, or not drinking.

Dehydration can occur if there is too much water lost, not enough water taken in, or a combination of those. Infants and small children have a higher likelihood of becoming dehydrated than adults because they can lose more fluid quickly.

Severe dehydration is a medical emergency and can lead to serious health problems such as kidney failure or heat-related illnesses. In most cases, you can avoid any serious complications of dehydration by recognizing signs and symptoms early and getting medical attention.

Respiratory Illness

Respiratory disorders in children include a variety of health conditions, including colds, flu, coughs, sore throat and other symptoms. Some children may have chronic respiratory illnesses such as asthma and cystic fibrosis, which affect their ability to breathe. Examples of chronic or acute respiratory illness include:

• Asthma – a chronic, inflammatory disease that occurs when the airways become sensitive to certain substances that trigger an allergic reaction.
• Bronchiolitis – a common infection of the lower respiratory tract, usually affecting infants. It occurs when a virus enters the respiratory system and travels to the bronchioles – the smallest airway passages in the body. The airways become swollen, making it difficult for air to flow freely.
• Pneumonia – an inflammation of the lungs usually caused by an infection. It can be caused by bacteria or viruses and ranges in severity from mild to life-threatening.

Some examples of the critical care conditions we treat in the Fletcher Allen Pediatric Intensive Care Unit also include:

• Sepsis, severe infections
• Meningitis, encephalitis
• Abnormal airways
• Single or multiple organ failure
  • Respiratory failure
  • Cardiovascular failure
  • Renal failure
• Severe blood diseases and childhood cancer
• Pneumonia, bronchiolitis
• Trauma
  • Severe head trauma
• Child abuse
• Complex surgical problems
  • Pediatric general surgery
  • Complex orthopedic procedures
  • Complex pediatric neurosurgical repairs
  • Kidney transplants
• Poisonings, drug overdoses
• Complex severe chronic illnesses
• Complex congenital diseases
• Seizures
• Complex neurological diseases
• Severe bowel disease
• Pancreatitis
• Severe auto-immune illnesses