University Hospital is the only Level 1 trauma center in Northern New Jersey. We are located in an inner city environment. Approximately 3000 trauma patients are admitted each year, many critically ill and many with brain, spinal cord and orthopedic injuries. Seven hundred patients per year are Northstar helicopter transports.
The 14 bed surgical intensive care unit is tour largest unit mostly dedicated to the care of trauma patients. However, in addition to the specialized care our SICU provides to these patients, a wide variety of other patients are also encountered such as those after severely invasive abdominal and thoracic surgeries, liver transplants, and those with multi-organ failure. The surgical intensive care unit provides a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, working closely with other consulting departments, respiratory care, nutrition services as well as palliative care.
The cardiothoracic intensive care unit is our smaller, six bed unit, dedicated to the care of patients undergoing cardiac procedures. However, other critically ill patients are also managed here by the Department of Anesthesiology as would be in the SICU. Additionally, patients with invasive neck and airway surgery are managed jointly by the Departments of Anesthesiology and Oromaxillofacial Surgery in the Post-Anesthesia Aare Unit, utilizing the same services available to those in the intensive care unit.
