CCU vs. CVICU

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I was just hoping someone could explain the difference b/w CCU and CVICU. I figured a cardiac ICU was just that; how is it differentiated b/w CCU and CVICU? I am looking to apply for an internship and of the 5 ICU's at the facility there is a CCU and a CVICU. Hope I am making sense, I am a bit sleep deprived at the moment. Thanks for you input! :kiss

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Hello!

CVICU is for post CABG patients. Where I work, they will also take thoracotomies as overflow occasionally. CCU gets all of the acute MIs, flash pulmonary edema, post arrests from the floors, temporary pacers, PTCAs, pericardial windows, and those types of fun things. In the hospital where I moonlight with an agency, there is only a CCU and a SICU. The CABGs go to SICU. Hope that clears it up for you. Let us know what you decide about your internship! Good luck!

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some hospitals call their CVICU, CTCU (cardio-thoracic critical-care unit). for post CABG and other cardio thoracic surgeries.

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Specializes in CCU (Coronary Care); Clinical Research.

Ours is a mixed CCU. We take the AMIs, pulm edema, heart caths with intervention, CABGS, codes from the floor, pacers, and pretty much anything else heart related! All of the thoracotomies/AAAs etc go to ICU for some reason, though that might change as we are trying to send our uncomplicated, nonMI heart cath interventions directly to the stepdown unit where they can pull the line.

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Ahhh.... I see. Thanks for the info! :D

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Our CCU stands for Critical Care Unit. At one time we had CCU( coronary care unit) and ICU(intensive care unit) They combine some 12 yrs ago.

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OUr CCu get any fresth CABG, major MI's, and and caths with the sheath still in. Typically the stepdown unit gets the uncomplicated CABG's 1 day out, any cath without a sheath, fresh pm, acute mi, and cp.

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I just recieved my preceptor assignment to the CVICU!!!!!! I'm very excited! Any suggestions for topics and/or equipment I should

reacquaint myself with prior to jumping right in?????

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Specializes in Surgical, Medical, Heamatology, ICU CICU.

Hi i think u got the answer for ur question am here jsut to sharewith u some facts. In Both places it is gonna be aroutine practice as u go along it is exciting when u r learning but then to me i felt board very fast coz am hyperactive hate routine Loves ICU. but my services is required more in CVICU since i got the potientials to be a team leader their. Wish u all the best:up:

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Probably a dumb question, but what does CABG stand for?

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Specializes in Utilization Management.
Probably a dumb question, but what does CABG stand for?

Not a dumb question at all. CABG stands for Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. Lots of great, easy-to-read information here with some nice illustrations:

http://www.sts.org/sections/patientinformation/adultcardiacsurgery/cabg/index.html?CFID=1432531&CFTOKEN=46276702

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Specializes in Paediatric Cardic critical care.

I work in a cadiothracic centre which is attached to a district hospital and I work in CTC ITU as we also hav a CCU (coronary care unit) and the main hospital has a gerneral ITU... can get quite confusing.

We take all the post op cardiac procedures and some more intense thoracic procedures and the other thoracic's will go to HDU (high dependancy unit) which is also based in the ctc itu.

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