South City Hospital caters to the medical and developmental needs of children. From routine vaccinations to the management of acute illness, our pediatricians ensure that your little ones are in good hands. This specialized service has round-the-clock support from a modern, well-equipped Laboratory, Radiology, and cath lab.
The Practice of Pediatric Critical Care.
The practice of pediatric critical care has developed dramatically throughout the past 4 decades. Knowledge of the pathophysiology of dangerous processes and the technological capacity to monitor and treat pediatric patients suffering from them has advanced speedily during this period. Along with the scientific and technical advances has come the evolution of the pediatric critical care unit (PICU), in which pediatric specialists Levels of Pediatric Critical Care can meet the special needs of critically ill or injured children and their families:
A PICU that meets level I specifications ideally provides pediatric critical care. The level I PICU must provide multidisciplinary definitive care for a wide range of complex, progressive, and rapidly changing medical, surgical, and traumatic disorders occurring in pediatric patients of all ages, excluding premature newborns. Most, but not all, level I PICUs should be located in major medical centers or within children’s hospitals. It is also recognized that in the appropriate clinical setting and as a result of many forces including but not limited to the presence of managed care, the insufficient supply of trained pediatric Intensivist, and geographic and transport limitations, level II PICUs may be an appropriate alternative to the transfer of all critically ill children to a level I PICU.
Level II PICUs may be necessary to stabilize critically ill children before transfer to another center or to avoid long-distance transfers for disorders of less complexity or lower acuity. A level II PICU does not require a full spectrum of subspecialists. Level II units should be located according to documented demand or need and in concert with accepted principles of regionalization of medical care. Although other special care units may be appropriate for hospitals with small pediatric inpatient services, they should not be considered PICUs.
Pediatric critical care units in Karachi face many challenges. In the government sector/NGO of the health system, few critical care units are well equipped and have the expertise to use sophisticated life-sustaining technology. A similar picture is evident in private sectors where there is a lack of Pediatric Critical care units or there is limited space.
Judging the need for a state-of-the-art pediatric critical care unit Management of the South City Hospital (already providing state of art medical and surgical coverage to adult patients) decided to provide this facility for the pediatric age group as well. Located in the district south, SCH is compelled to plan and offer the best critical care so the patients and their families don’t have to search here and there for a bed for a sick patient. This unit can provide very diverse specialties in pediatrics under one roof; such as General Pediatrics Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Invasive cardiology, Pediatric neurology, Pediatric infectious diseases Pediatric Urology, Pediatric General Surgery, Pediatric Urology, and Critical Care. What is a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit? Where extensive monitoring is provided to patients with the most likely following conditions.
All respiratory or cardiac arrest
- Unstable airway,
- Inability to oxygenate (O2 Sat less than 90% on>50% oxygen requirement,
- Inability to ventilate with rising PCO2 levels with respiratory insufficiency,
- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score2 points,
- Status epilepticus,
- Critical values of age-specific vital signs parameters
Along with the minimum requirements of HDU, PICU would require 1:1 patient-to-nurse care along with state-of-the-art ventilators and invasive monitoring gadgets and monitors. 24/7 physician coverage along with the availability of trained intensivists to lead.
Currently, 6 beds PICU and 4 Beds Pediatric HDU are available equipped with Multiparameter monitors and ventilators, radiology, operation theatre, cath-lab, laboratory, and blood bank.
Team
A highly skilled team runs this setup and cares throughout the 24 hours.
Ancillary Services
A trained respiratory therapist, pharmacist, physiotherapist, nutritionist, hemodialysis, Pediatric surgeon, and radiology with 24/7 coverage of biomedical engineering, advanced-level radiology including Invasive Radiology, and Sophisticated modern Laboratory to support advanced level PICU.
Equipment
To be technologically advanced and safe intensive care, equipment state the art are present: -Monitors with invasive monitoring including Portable EEG, and Portable Echo, are available at the patient’s bedside. -Latest mechanical ventilators (at least 4) along with 3-4 high-flow nasal cannula devices with air and oxygen ports at all bedsides.
Along with these intensive care materials like crash carts, intubation trolleys, and central line / Art lines of appropriate sizes are available. Provision for hemodialysis is also available.
MRI / CT Scan is Available.
Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Where extensive monitoring is provided to patients with the most likely following conditions
All respiratory or cardiac arrest:
- Unstable airway,
- Inability to oxygenate (O2 Sat less than 90% on>50% oxygen requirement,
- Inability to ventilate with rising PCO2 levels with respiratory insufficiency,
- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score2 points,
- Status epilepticus,
- Critical values of age-specific vital signs parameters
The minimum requirements of a PICU are:
- 1:2 Patient-to-nurse care.
- Pediatric ventilators.
- Invasive monitoring gadgets and monitors.6 available on 6 beds.
- 24/7 physician coverage: available: Dr. Aftab, Dr. Tahir Ali, Dr. Saghir Ahmed, Dr. Mumtaz Lakhani, Dr. Sohail Thobani, Dr. N Lal, Dr. Raman, Dr. Farida, Dr. Amna Tariq, Dr. Mehnaz Atiq, Dr. Anjum Shouq, Dr. Samina Habib
- Dr. Rahim and Dr. Tahir Ali
- Critical Support: Dr. Nasir Khoso
PICU’s High Dependency Unit (HDU)(4 beds)
Team
A highly skilled team runs this setup. Consultants attend throughout the day and are on Call for coverage. In all intensive care units here as well physicians run the unit but highly skilled nursing personnel lead the unit 24 hours.
Note: A 24-hour senior experienced Anesthesia Specialist is present and a Child Psychologist is available as well.
Ancillary Services
- Pharmacists, physiotherapists, and nutritionists are available.
- Hemodialysis available,
- Four Senior Pediatric surgeons are available: Dr. M. Arshad, Dr. M. Arif Mateen, and Dr. M. Rashid( Urologist).
- Radiology available
- 14 hours coverage of biomedical engineer and 24 hours on-call available.
Equipment
- Monitors with invasive monitoring,
- Portable EEG.
- Portable Echocardiography.
- Mechanical ventilators.
- High-flow nasal cannula devices with air and oxygen ports at the bedside are present,
- Crash Cart / intensive care trolley present,
- Intubation trolley, BIPAP are present.
- Central lines / Art lines of appropriate sizes are available.
- Hemodialysis devices are present.
