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Pediatrics specialties

Conditions treated in the PICU

Neuromuscular

  • Seizures and Status Epilepticus
  • Brain swelling (Cerebral Edema) due to accidental head trauma, Shaken Baby Syndrome, hypoxic-ischemic injury and metabolic disorders
  • Meningitis and encephalitis
  • Intracranial bleeding due to trauma and blood coagulation disorders
  • Stroke due to vascular disorders or Sickle Cell Disease
  • Neuromuscular weakness due to Myasthenia Gravis or Guillain-Barre Syndrome
  • Complications of muscular dystrophy
  • Postoperative period following tumor resection, ventricular fluid shunt insertion, craniosynostosis repair or spinal fusion

Respiratory

  • Epiglottitis and croup
  • Tracheobronchitis and bronchiolitis
  • Status asthmaticus
  • Bacterial and viral pneumonia
  • Sickle cell acute chest
  • Aspiration pneumonia and near drowning
  • Smoke inhalation injury
  • Acute and chronic respiratory failure
  • Adult respiratory distress syndrome
  • Pleural effusion and empyema
  • Postoperative period following tracheostomy or other ear, nose and throat surgery
  • Postoperative respiratory dysfunction

Cardiovascular

  • Cardiogenic, hypovolemic, septic, traumatic or postoperative shock
  • Cardiorespiratory arrest
  • Left heart failure and pulmonary edema
  • Myocarditis and cardiomyopathy
  • Malignant hypertension
  • Pulmonary hypertension
  • Cardiac arrhythmias
  • Postoperative cardiovascular dysfunction
  • Postoperative period following cardiac surgery

Gastrointestinal

  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Acute hepatic failure and coma
  • Acute pancreatitis
  • Pseudomembranous colitis (clostridium difficile)
  • Typhlitis in Oncology Patients
  • Infectious colitis, enteritis, gastroenteritis (septic)
  • Intussusception and volvulus
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding
  • Postoperative period following gastrointestinal surgery or liver transplantation

Fluid, electrolyte and renal

  • Critical abnormalities of serum sodium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium
  • Metabolic acidosis or alkalosis
  • Volume depletion (dehydration without shock)
  • Fluid overload
  • Acute renal failure and tubular necrosis
  • Postoperative period following kidney transplantation or major urologic surgery

Hematology and oncology

  • Sickle cell crisis
  • Acute posthemorrhagic anemia
  • Significant thrombocytopenia
  • Defibrination syndrome or disseminated intravascular coagulation
  • Induction period of chemotherapy for malignant disease
  • Critical illness following chemotherapy, radiation therapy or bone marrow transplantation

Endocrine and metabolism

  • Diabetic ketoacidosis
  • Diabetic hyperosmolarity, nonketotic
  • Diabetes insipidus and the syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion
  • Nutritional marasmus
  • Critical illness related to congenital metabolic disorders

Infectious disease

  • Toxic shock syndrome due to staphylococcal or streptococcal infection
  • Septic shock due to meningococcus, pneumococcus and other bacteria
  • Botulism
  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever
  • Systemic candidiasis

Poisoning and environmental injuries

  • Accidental or deliberate overdose with salicylates, acetaminophen, antidepressants and other medications
  • Accidental or deliberate ingestion of non-medicinal poisons
  • Carbon monoxide poisoning
  • Envenomation by a poisonous snake or spider
  • Accidental hypothermia
  • Environmental and malignant hyperthermia
  • Lightning and other electrical injuries

Traumatic injuries

  • Resuscitation and stabilization period following major trauma