A division of the Intensive Care Services offered at St. Louis Children’s Hospital includes a newly constructed, state of the art Cardiac Intensive Care Unit specializing in the treatment of cardiac related illnesses. The Cardiac ICU is located in the new East Bay Expansion region of the hospital on the 7th floor. The Cardiac ICU is comprised of twelve private rooms specifically dedicated to patients experiencing cardiac related illnesses.
Patient Population
The Cardiac ICU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital is committed to improving the quality of life for every child who passes through our doors. We believe family-centered care is an essential part of each family’s experience. In providing care for critically ill infants, children, and adolescents, the Cardiac ICU team approaches this endeavor by forming a partnership between the health care team and family. We appreciate diversity across ethnic, geographic, age and economic lines and strive to meet the individual needs of patients and families.
The Cardiac ICU is dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate, and respectful care to every patient and family. We treat patients with a variety of diagnoses including: Arterial Switch Operation (ASO), Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Bidirectional Glenn Operation, Fontan Operation, Coarctation of the Aorta, Right Ventricle-Pulmonary Artery Conduit Replacement, Ventricular Septal Defect (VSD), Tetrology of Fallot (TOF), Cardiac Transplant, Lung Transplant, and Norwood Operation. We specialize in Extra Corporeal Membraneous Oxygenation (ECMO) and Berlin Heart Implantation.
In addition, the Cardiac ICU team manages neonatal patients carrying various diagnoses associated with complex congenital heart lesions. We treat and manage those patients experiencing complex cardiac arrhythmias and patients who have undergone complex cardiac catheter interventions. The Cardiac ICU at St. Louis Children’s Hospital combines cutting-edge technology and a family centered approach to pediatric cardiac care.
Team Members
A cardiac focused team including cardiologists, intensivists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, nurse practitioners, respiratory therapists, patient care associates, pharmacologists, dietitians, social workers, chaplains, and child life specialists will staff the Cardiac ICU. This multidisciplinary approach to patient care offers our patients the highest complexity of care.
Leadership
Daily operations in the Cardiac ICU are supervised by a core group of specially trained Charge Nurses. In addition to coordinating admissions, discharges, and transfers, the Charge Nurses serve as a clinical resource to all the bedside nurses.
Nursing Achievements
There are a number of nurses who have their CCRN certification employed in the Cardiac ICU.
There is a specialty ECMO and CVVH team within the Cardiac ICU.
Continuing Education Requirements
All nurses are required to have BLS certification at the time of employment and all become PALS certified within the first year of employment. All nurses complete 12 hours of continuing education each year in addition to the yearly competencies set forth by the clinical educator.