Any illness that threatens life requires critical care. Poisoning, surgical problems, and premature birth are a few causes of critical illness. Critical illness includes:
Illness that affects the heart and all of the vessels that carry blood to the body, such as:
- Myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Shock
- Arrhythmia
- Congestive heart failure
Illness that affects the lungs and the muscles used for breathing, such as:
- Respiratory failure
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary embolus
Illness that affects the kidneys, such as:
Illness that affects the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and other parts of the body that carry food, such as:
Illness that affects the brain and the spinal cord and nerves that connect the brain to the arms, legs, and other organs, such as:
Infection caused by a virus, bacteria, or fungus, such as:
- Sepsis
- Ventilator-associated pneumonia
- Catheter-related infection
- Drug-resistant infection
Multiple organ failure
A serious injury also requires critical care, whether the result of:
- A car crash
- A gunshot or stabbing wound
- A fall
- Burns