The Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU) at Shaare Zedek Medical Center provides critical care for patients experiencing acute cardiac conditions, such as heart attacks, sudden cardiac arrest, acute myocarditis, acute vascular problems, acute heart failure exacerbation, post-catheterization and complex procedures in the catheterization lab and electrophysiology lab, as well as patients with hemodynamic instability due to normal coronary arteries (vasospastic angina).
The CICU team comprises the unit manager, two senior cardiologists, a cardiology fellow, a responsible nurse, critical care nurses, a dietitian, a social worker, and a physical therapist. Patients in the cardiac intensive care unit are continuously monitored under cardiac supervision, with nursing and medical care provided around the clock.
The unit has nine separate treatment rooms with state-of-the-art cardiac intensive care beds and is equipped with advanced and efficient medical equipment, including invasive and non-invasive mechanical ventilation devices, mechanical circulatory support devices (IABP, IMPERLLA), advanced hemodynamic monitoring, a hypothermia device for post-cardiac arrest patients, and dialysis machines.
In 2019, the cardiac unit was upgraded with modern and innovative equipment, including a new monitoring system, telemetry devices, advanced drug delivery pumps, a point-of-care ultrasound (VASCULAR US) device, and a new communication system for the benefit of both patients and the medical team. Patients in need of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or continuous dialysis (PRIMA) were transferred to the general intensive care unit (ICU) for further treatment, under the continuous coordination and monitoring of the cardiac intensive care team.
Upon completion of treatment in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, based on the medical team's assessment and the patient's condition, patients are transferred for ongoing care to the cardiology department, internal medicine department, or are discharged to their homes.