Department of Anesthesia: Surgical Intensive Care

The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) is medically directed and staffed by faculty members of the Department of Anesthesia and Department of Surgery who are skilled in the care of acutely ill surgical patients and have wide experience in managing complex emergencies. These anesthesia staff are responsible for the administrative and medical supervision of the SICU, which serves 2,000 patients annually. The SICU is a 26-bed unit that cares for patients receiving treatment of head injuries, post-neurosurgical procedures, heart surgery, ventilator management, general surgical, and other trauma patients. The team approach to clinical service allows for the opportunity of close professional relationships between specialties. The patient population presents a challenge that requires knowledge and expertise outside any one specialty, especially in the areas of the invasive monitoring, practical procedures, resuscitation, and pharmacology.

Many support services assist in providing care for SICU patients. Most important is the large number of highly trained critical care nurses. Respiratory therapists assist in caring for patients who require ventilation and physical therapists also work with many of the unit's patients. The need for a nearby supply of medications is met by a satellite unit of the main pharmacy. A critical care laboratory provides rapid results of tests carried out on the patients. For over 20 years, the Department of Anesthesia has provided superior medical direction of this unit.

J. Steven Hata, M.D., Director
Brent Hadder, M.D.
Sundar Krishnan, M.B.B.S.
Avinash Kumar, M.D.
Kent S. Pearson, M.D.
Jonathan Simmons, D.O.
Shawn Simmons, M.D.
Debra J. Szeluga, M.D.
Joss Thomas, MD
Chiedozie Udeh, M.D.