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Diuretics Diuretics can be used to draw water away from the brain in cases of cerebral edema. The amount of urine increases when diuretics are used. Mannitol Mannitol is a type of diuretic given by IV that draws fluid away from the organs and into the bloodstream to be eventually eliminated with the...

Stomach, Liver, Gallbladder, Pancreas and Bowels The GI system contains all of the organs we need to take in nutrients and eliminate waste. The mouth is connected to the stomach by a passage called the esophagus. The stomach does not absorb a lot of nutrients, but it helps to start breaking them...

The brain is the control centre for the rest of the body. All parts of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves pass messages using electrical current. Most automatic actions like breathing are controlled in the lower brain at the back and bottom of the skull. Decision making, movement, sensation, and...

The heart is the pump that moves blood through the lungs and the rest of the body. The blood carries oxygen and nutrients the body’s cells need to work and takes away waste products. The heart has four chambers: The right side of the heart takes care of blood going to the lungs. The left side of the...

Many people who are admitted to intensive care are having trouble breathing. Normally, the lungs expand when we breathe in, and shrink back again when we breathe out. When we breathe in, the air fills the small pouches surrounded by tiny blood vessels deep in the lungs. They exchange oxygen that the...

If your loved one is not awake or able to make decisions for themselves, the ICU care team will ask another person to help make treatment decisions. This person is called a substitute decision maker . Often, this person is an immediate family member such as a parent, spouse, or child, or another...

Assessments The skin is inspected every shift as the nurse performs other assessments. He or she will check for any change in the skin, including redness and dryness. Blood tests Tests measuring electrolytes such as sodium can tell staff if a person is well hydrated. These tests are essential to...

Blood tests There are a number of blood tests that can provide clues to how the kidneys are functioning. Urea and creatinine are nitrogen waste products that are regularly moved from the blood to the urine. These levels can increase if a lot of protein or muscle is being built or broken down, and if...

Many of the medications used to support the kidneys are actually used to change the amount of blood the heart can send to them and the other organs. Diuretics Diuretics work on the kidneys by increasing the amount of urine. This allows the body to get rid of extra fluid that can cause edema...

Blood tests Angiograms Nutrients Abdominal Ultrasound Colonoscopy CT Scan Endoscopy MRI Blood tests There are many blood tests that can be used to check how the gastrointestinal system is working. Blood sugars are one of the most common, and can give a clue to how the pancreas is working and how the...