I C C U ( T A C H Y C A R D I A ) | Tutorial D-1 CVS

130110110177|Gabriella Chafrina| 01/10/13

ICCU: Intensive Coronary Care Unit
Intensive: close and maximum care to selected needy patients to overcome the
crisis by watching the vital signs on the monitors and managing accordingly to save
a life and to prevent further complication
The first description of the ICCUs was based on monitoring patients with acute
myocardial infarction (AMI) for the early diagnosis and treatment of ventricular
fibrillation (VF) treats high risk coronary patients (patients with myocardial
infarction, heart failure, arrhythmia, or after CPR) and patients who need to
undergo special procedures such as intra aortic balloon, heart-beat regulation,
hemo-dynamic monitoring as well as cardioversion for arrhythmia
Types of patients admitted in ICCU:
o Cardiac:
Acute myocardial infarction
Congestive cardiac failure, left ventricular failure
Pulmonary edema
Heart block
After cardiovascular surgery
o Others:
Some post-operative patients with respiratory failure or shock of grave concern
Poisoning patients with respiratory failure
Some patients after neuro-surgical operations
Patients with cardiac arrest due to any cause
Each patient has 1 bedside monitor which connected to central monitoring system in the centre of ICCU. Central
monitoring system consist of:
o Monitoring scope or TV screen where all patients can be monitored together
o Arrhythmia monitor any type of arrhythmia can be monitored and recorded
o Telemetry system of monitoring
The inciting factor for an arrhythmia in a given patient may be a transient imbalance and hemodynamic
compromise, often related to hypoxia, infection, cardiac ischemia, catecholamine excess (endogenous or
exogenous), or an electrolyte abnormality. Management includes correction of these imbalances as well as
medical therapy directed at the arrhythmia itself.
The predominant arrhythmias noted in ICCU are tachyarrhythmia, particularly atrial fibrillation and flutter, and
ventricular tachycardia. Bradycardias, arguably less life-threatening than tachyarrhythmia.


I C C U ( T A C H Y C A R D I A ) | Tutorial D-1 CVS
130110110177|Gabriella Chafrina| 01/10/13