What does intensive care mean in medical terms?

Intensive care, or critical care, is a specialized form of medical treatment that is focused on the management and continuous monitoring of acutely and critically ill patients. It involves providing life-supportive treatments such as artificial respiration, 24/7 observation, fluid support (including blood products), medications to maintain blood pressure, organ function and other physiological parameters. Intensive Care Units (ICU) are operated by highly trained staff such as doctors, nurses and technicians who have expertise in managing multiple critically ill patients at once. ICUs also provide advanced diagnostics such as imaging studies (CT scans or MRI), electrocardiograms (EKGs). In addition to these services provided directly to the patient in an ICU setting, special protocols for early recognition of clinical deterioration can be initiated for patients under their care - this allows for early intervention which can improve the outcome of many serious illnesses.