From intensive care to treatment of the critically ill

Abstract The potential necessity of keeping critically ill patients in a separate ward was observed 150 years ago. After several catastrophes in the middle of the 20th century the concept of keeping the critically ill patients together in one place has become routine. This concept eventually developed into the installation of intensive care units. In the beginning, intensive care units were respiratory units to keep the patient alive by supportive measures while awaiting the improvement of primary disease. Today, intensivists also provide specific treatment to the patients to cure their disease. Recent studies and questionnaires show the efficiency of multidisciplinary intensive care units run by specially trained intensivists. On the other hand lack of clear admission and life sustaining treatment criteria often creates ethical problems, especially when patients with no hope of recovery are admitted to intensive care units.