Intensive care

We provide adult tertiary-level intensive care for post-operative cardiothoracic and vascular surgical patients, cardiology patients, and patients with severe cardiac and/or respiratory failure from all over New Zealand who require mechanical support with Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO).

As a complex and multidisciplinary service supporting patients with severe heart and or lung failure, we have a highly experienced and passionate team of specialists, including senior medical officers and senior nursing staff.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a complex therapy which helps to support patients with severe heart and or lung failure.

The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU), in conjunction with the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit in Starship Hospital, (external link) is a nationwide service. 

Referirng doctors

Adult ECMO online referral form.

We are the only dedicated paediatric intensive care facility within New Zealand. PICU provides a national service for children requiring intensive care for longer than 24 hours and a regional service for all children requiring intensive care or high dependency care.

The paediatric intensive care unit is a combined cardiac and general intensive care facility with a physical capacity for 20 ICU beds along with a 10-bed high dependency area (HDU), admitting approximately 1,200 children each year. Approximately 45% of admissions are cardiac, providing pre- and post-operative care for children undergoing treatment for congenital cardiac conditions. General admissions include the full range of medical and surgical conditions and therapies, including liver transplantation, spinal surgery and neurosurgery. All intensive care support techniques are employed, including renal replacement therapy, HFOV and ECMO.

PICU also staffs and runs the only dedicated paediatric retrieval service in New Zealand. Children are retrieved from throughout New Zealand and occasionally by international flight from the South Pacific region. There are approximately 300 retrievals each year, with a mix of road, fixed wing and helicopter transfers.

More information. (external link)