Treatment in ICU

When an individual comes to the emergency department following a blow to the head and is diagnosed with a moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), they are often transferred to the hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU). In many situations, traumtic brain injury victims who are admitted to the ICU are in some type of comatose state and may be in critical condition. Treatment for the brain damage itself does not generally begin in the ICU. Instead, the main goals in the ICU are stabilizing the victim, monitoring his status, and preventing any further medical crisis, secondary injuries, or complications.

ICU Treatment Can Involve Many Types of Equipment

Stabilization and monitoring of a traumtic brain injury patient can involve many different types of medical equipment. For this reason, the ICU is full of wires, tubes, machines beeping and whirring, and medical alarms. All of this can make the ICU seem hectic and stressful, however, such equipment is needed to help all patients keep functioning and help staff keep track of their condition.

Some examples of stabilizing equipment that may be used with traumtic brain injury victims in the ICU include the following:

Ventilator — Also known as a respirator, a ventilator is used to assist patients who cannot breathe on their own. A brain injury may affect the part of the brain that regulates breathing and, therefore, an unconscious TBI victim may stop breathing automatically. The ventilator ensures that proper oxygen is received until their brain functioning returns.
Nasogastric tube — If brain damage prevents a patient from being able to swallow, they may require a tube from their nose or mouth down to their stomach in order to feed them medication and avoid malnutrition.
Catheter — Similarly, if a TBI patient is unconscious or has otherwise lost bladder functioning, a catheter may be required to collect urine output.

In addition to stabilizing equipment, some examples of devices and machines used to monitor the condition of a TBI patient can include:

Intracranial pressure monitor (ICP) — In the case of many brain injuries, the damaged tissue will begin to swell, which can dangerously increase the pressure inside the skull. This monitor alerts medical staff of increased swelling and pressure in the brain.
Electrocardiogram (EKG) — This device keeps track of a patient’s heart rate and alerts staff if the heart rate drops or speeds up drastically.
Pulse Oximeter — This device is secured on a TBI patient’s toe, finger, or ear to consistently measure the levels of oxygen in their blood.

The amount of equipment and care administered in the ICU can cost a traumtic brain injury patient more than $10,000 per day if they require a ventilator. Even after stabilizing and breathing on their own, ICU patients may incur more than $3,000 in daily expenses.

Consult with a Baltimore or Washington D.C. Brain Injury attorney at The Casper Firm as Soon as Possible

Anyone who has sustained a brain injury and has incurred medical expenses and other losses should discuss their right to recovery with an experienced brain injury lawyer. Please call The Casper Firm in Baltimore for a free consultation today.