Critical Care

Why choose Connecticut Children’s Critical Care?

Our experienced critical care physicians and nurses at Connecticut Children’s deliver advanced life-saving care to children of all ages. Our critical care specialists are available 24 hours a day in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) to care for children who are critically ill or severely injured. Many of the children we care for have life-threatening complications from chronic illness, experience organ failure, or are in a state of medical instability.

Critical Care Programs & Services

Inside the PICU, our critical care physicians are at the bedside 24 hours a day. Our highly skilled specialists care for children of all ages who are critically ill, severely injured, suffering life-threatening complications of chronic illness, experiencing organ failures, or in a state of medical instability. Conditions that require intensive care may include:

Asthma and other complex breathing disorders
Severe lung disease such as pneumonia and bronchiolitis
Post-operative care after surgery of the airway, spine, brain and abdomen
Heart, kidney or liver failure
Post-operative care for infants, children, and young adults with congenital heart disease
Poisoning
Acute infections of the bloodstream (septic shock), brain (meningitis), and other organs
Shock
Trauma

Children in need of critical care are admitted to the PICU from several areas of the hospital, including Connecticut Children’sLevel 1 Pediatric Trauma Centerand our operating rooms. Many pediatric patients are transported directly to the PICU from other regional hospitals that cannot provide the advanced care needed. Connecticut Children’s state-of-the-art pediatric intensive care services include:

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) technology
High-frequency ventilation
Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy (CRRT)
24/7 neonatal and pediatric transport provided by our Critical Care Transport Team

Our Team

Our pediatric critical care physicians are all board-certified and fellowship-trained to handle any condition that may threaten a child’s life.

Meet Our Team

Family-Centered Care

Connecticut Children’s family-centered approach to care ensures open dialogue and communication between our staff, children and their families. We encourage parents to be involved in decisions and plans about their child’s care, and to join our physicians and staff as they round each day. The multidisciplinary team caring for your child is always available to answer questions and provide the support needed during and after your child’s stay in the PICU.