Surgical intensivists are required to maintain expertise in the evaluation
and management of multiple organ system problems in critically ill patients,
including cardiopulmonary (heart/lung) disease, renal (kidney) disease, neurological
(brain and spine) disease, gastrointestinal disease, nutrition support, infectious
disease and immunology. The SCC Team is qualified to perform invasive cardiopulmonary
monitoring and management, manage ventilators (breathing machines), perform
bronchoscopy and tracheostomy, place feeding tubes, and provide complex nutritional
support. As a result, other specialty consultations are not routinely necessary.
Specialists, however, are consulted to participate in the care of particularly
complex or unusual cases, or when a medical service is required that the Surgical
Critical Care Team doesnt routinely provide (e.g. dialysis, cardiac catheterization/angioplasty).
