Publish-Ahead-of-Print published March 21, 2005

European Heart Journal

doi:10.1093/eurheartj/ehi202

ESC Report

Recommendations for the structure, organization,

and operation of intensive cardiac care units
Yonathan Hasin1*, Nicolas Danchin2, Gerasimos S. Filippatos3, Magda Heras4,
Uwe Janssens5, Jonathan Leor6, Menachem Nahir1, Alexander Parkhomenko7,
Kristian Thygesen8, Marco Tubaro9, Lars C. Wallentin10, and Ilia Zakke11 on behalf
of the Working Group on Acute Cardiac Care of the European Society of Cardiology
1
Poria Medical Center, M.P. Lower Galilee, Tiberias, Israel
2
Hopital Europeen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
3
Evangelismos General Hospital, Athens, Greece
4
Cardiovascular Institute, University of Barcelona, Spain
5
Universitat Klinikum, Aachen, Germany
6
Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
7
Ukrainian Institute of Cardiology, Kiev, Ukraine
8
Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
9
San Fillippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy
10
Uppsala Cardiothoracic Center, Uppsala, Sweden
11
P. Stradins Clinical University Hospital, Riga, Latvia
Received 15 September 2004; revised 1 February 2005; accepted 10 February 2005

KEYWORDS Two major changes in patient characteristics and management occurred recently that
Intensive care unit; demand distinctive alterations in the function of the intensive cardiac care unit
Acute cardiac care; (ICCU). These changes include the introduction of an early invasive strategy for the
Functional treatment of acute coronary syndromes, enabling early recuperation and shorter
recommendations;
need for intensive care on the one hand, while the number of older and sicker patients
Medical equipment
requiring prolonged and more complex intensive care is steadily increasing. A task
force of the European Society of Cardiology Working Group on Acute Cardiac Care
was set to give a modern updated comprehensive recommendations concerning the
structure, organization, and function of the modern ICCUs and intermediate cardiac
units. These include the statement that specially trained cardiologists and cardiac
nurses who can manage patients with acute cardiac conditions should staff the
ICCUs. The optimum number of physicians, nurses, and other personal working in
the unit is included. The document indicates the desired architecture and structure
of the units and the intermediate cardiac unit and their relations to the other facilities
in the hospital. Specific recommendations are also included for the minimal number
of beds, monitoring system, respirators, pacemaker/defibrillators, and necessary
additional equipment. The desired function is discussed, namely, the patients to be
admitted, the length of stay, and the relocation policy. A uniformed electronic
chart for ICCUs is advised, anticipating a common European database.

* Corresponding author. Tel: 972 4 6652648; fax: 972 4 6652678.

E-mail address: [email protected]

& The European Society of Cardiology 2005. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please e-mail: [email protected]
Page 2 of 8 Y. Hasin et al.

Introduction and easier than in the past, recovery is faster, and

the average length of stay is shorter.
The following represents an expert consensus document (ii) The medical profession has reached a level of
written by the nucleus members of the European specialization in which the cardiologists and the
Society of Cardiology (ESC) Working Group for Acute intensive care physician are impelled to establish a
Cardiac Care (ACC). long-term treatment policy for their patients rather
The first description of the intensive cardiac care units than take care of only the patients immediate and
(ICCUs) was presented by Julian1 to the British Thoracic urgent problems.
Society in 1961 and was based on monitoring patients
with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) for the early Patient population
diagnosis and treatment of ventricular fibrillation.
Nevertheless, significant benefit of the units was not Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) will probably remain the
obtained until some decisive policy changes were most frequently primary admission diagnosis in ICCU in
made, including treatment protocols and structural the next decade. Today these patients are treated effec-
organizations.2 The current objectives of the ICCUs are tively and quickly in different ways, thus the length of
the monitoring and support of failing vital functions in stay both in the unit and in the hospital is expected to
acute and/or critically ill cardiac patients, in order to decrease. On the other hand, the aging population in
perform adequate diagnostic measures followed by Europe, with increasing co-morbidities will probably
medical and invasive therapies to improve outcome. change the ICCU population. Dramatic improvement in
The current published literature regarding the struc- therapeutic measures will lead to a better outcome,
ture, operation, and function of ICCUs is insufficient with a prolonged survival for patients with coronary
because of the following reasons: it focuses on non- artery disease, with either a normal or a depressed left
cardiac care,3 it is limited to part of the needs,4 it ventricular function. Therefore, the case-mix of our
describes only local standards,5 it is published in non- patients in the ICCU will change dramatically in the
English literature,6 or it is very old.7 next decades.
In a continental survey among hospitals from different As the population is aging, the unit will have to treat
parts of Europe, a great deal of divergence was found elderly patients who tend to suffer from multisystem
concerning the whole spectrum of organization and diseases; the number of patients treated by multiple
function of ICCUs (ESC WG on Acute Cardiac Care; percutaneous or surgical revascularization procedures
unpublished results). will increase; moreover, the ICCU is becoming the treat-
The ESC Working Group on ACC was established in ment centre for patients suffering from severe cardiac
2001. One of its declared tasks is to improve and unify arrhythmias and decompensate heart failure or different
the function of ICCUs across Europe. combinations of diseased heart and other organs. As a
A task force composed of the nucleus members of the result, it may likely be that the ICCU will be utilized for
Working Group set out to write the following document more complex patients who require a relatively longer
in order to provide an updated guide indicating the length of stay in the Unit and will provide the treating
minimal optimal requirements for the modern function- staff with a special challenge. For these reasons, the
ing ICCU. The manuscript is based on the current avail- requirements of the ICCU will increase, not decrease.
able literature; it reflects the existing working states in A special group of patients are those suffering from
different European countries and the personal opinion complications following invasive treatments in the cathe-
of the task force members. terization lab. The still growing number of severe cases
The manuscript has undergone extensive revision by with multivessel disease, complex lesions, reduced left
the Guideline Committee of the ESC and by the editorial ventricular function, and a multitude of co-morbidities
board of the European Heart Journal. treated in the catheterization lab may increase the
Local modifications should be implemented according to number of complications during and after coronary inter-
the local special needs derived from specific patient case- vention procedures. These patients represent a special
mix, available resources, and different laws and regulations. group of patients admitted to the Unit and need specific
Two changes occurred over the past two decades that cardiological nursing and medical expertise.
demand distinctive alterations in the function of the
ICCUs in the next decade. Changes will take place both Treatment policies
in the patient population admitted to the ICCU and in
the medical care supplied. Reperfusion in acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction
patients is undoubtedly an emergency.9 Direct mecha-
(i) Emergency reperfusion treatment policies (non- nical revascularization is becoming more and more
invasive or invasive) were adopted as an accepted popular, even though its availability is still restricted
standard of care in patients with AMI.8 These policies owing to lack of trained staff and budget constraints. In
dictate the necessity for special attention and the near future, the catheterization laboratory and the
immediate treatment of the patients early on, but ICCU will become more and more inseparable.
after the success of the initial treatment, the In the coming decade, the cardiologists will continue to
patients show immediate drastic improvement in observe constant efforts of the pharmaceutical industry
many cases. Follow-up and management are simpler to improve reperfusion at the patients bedside, with
ESC recommendations for structure, origanization, and operation of ICCUs Page 3 of 8

new, more efficient thrombolytics, anticoagulants, and demographic and clinical data, modes of interventions,
antiplatelets agents, and more effective interventional and in-hospital outcome. This will make communication
therapy, which, in combination with newly developed among the different ICCUs simpler and could serve as
drugs aimed at the salvage of the microvasculature and database with an enormous source of information both
of the myocardium from ischaemia/reperfusion injury, for research and for quality control purposes.
will hopefully improve outcome in these patients.
This pre-vision has clear implications for the necessity
of constantly updating the Units about novel resources Functional recommendations
for diagnosis and treatment, as well as preparing them
to participate in multicentre research in order to deter- ICCU patients
mine the efficacy of the new therapeutic developments.
Professionalization of medicine is becoming more The decision to admit a patient will be made by the ICCU
intense, with the need for cardiac patients be treated physician on duty; in case of physician disagreement, the
preferentially by properly trained cardiologists. In those decision will be made at the senior physician level. It is
hospitals in which the patients are transferred directly advisable for the following patients to be routinely
to the internal medicine ward, the physician in the Unit admitted to the ICCU.14,15
is compelled to determine a long-term treatment
policy, in addition to being obliged to provide acute (i) any patient with suspected acute ST-elevation
treatment. Thus, the different Units will develop myocardial infarction, up to 24 h from the onset
methods for prognostic stratification (index-risk stratifi- of symptoms, especially if suitable for thrombolytic
cation), which will most probably include a combination or primary angioplasty treatment;
of clinical data (age, sex, heart rate, blood pressure); (ii) patients with AMI, presenting .24 h after onset of
ECG (ST-segment depression or elevation, T-wave inver- symptoms with complications, or unstable high-risk
sion); cardiac markers of elevation, especially troponin; patients (heart failure that requires intravenous
evaluation of the left ventricular function; residual therapy or haemodynamic monitoring or support of
ischaemia; and electrical instability. an intra-aortic balloon, serious cardiac dysrrhythmias,
conduction disturbances, temporary pacemakers);
(iii) patients in cardiogenic shock;
Staff
(iv) patients with high-risk unstable coronary syndro-
The change in patient population and treating policies mes (e.g. ongoing or repeated anginal pain, heart
necessitate appropriate staff training. An increase in failure, significant diffuse ST-depression, dynamic
the number of complex and/or elderly patients (who ST-shift, elevated troponins);
may need respiratory treatment, intra-aortic balloon (v) unstable patients after a complicated percuta-
counter pulsation, haemodynamic complex monitoring, neous coronary intervention (PCI), who need
or dialysis) and participation in multicentre research pro- special attention (at the discretion of the PCI
jects require suitable training of the physicians and the operator);
nursing staff. It is reasonable that for specific specializ- (vi) patients with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias,
ation, there will be suitable training and accreditation as a result of ischaemic heart disease, cardio-
myopathy, rheumatic heart disease, electrolyte
both for physicians and for nurses, especially for the
research nurses who will be an integral part of the disturbances, drug effects, or poisoning;
ICCUs nursing staff. (vii) patients with acute pulmonary oedema unresolved
by initial therapy and depending on the underlying
conditions;
Equipment
(viii) patients in need of haemodynamic monitoring for
evaluation of therapy;
The standard monitoring equipment, including invasive
(ix) patients after a heart transplant with acute
and non-invasive electrocardiographic, haemodynamic,
problem, i.e. infection, haemodynamic deterio-
and respiratory assessment, will continue to be the
ration, electrolyte imbalance, suspected acute
basis of the ICCU.10 Monitoring for the evaluation of
rejection, and so on;
autonomous function and electrical instability (heart
(x) massive pulmonary embolism.
rate variability, baroreceptor sensitivity, signal average
electrocardiogram, and built-in continuous ECG Holter This list is conclusive and should be adapted according to
monitoring11) is likely to be added to standard equip- each individual case.
ment. Non-invasive assessment of cardiac function such
as cardiac output12,13 as well as continuous CO2 and O2 Length of stay in the ICCU
saturation monitoring, is becoming available and is
routinely used in the modern ICCU. . The length of stay in the ICCU should be primarily
Computers are a part of the everyday monitoring of the planned to be at least 24 days, dictated by the indi-
patients; it is used for collecting and analysing patients vidual clinical presentation.
data. A uniform electronic database management . Patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction
system of all the European ICCUs is an important task without complications should continue the treatment
for the Working Group on ACC, including at least basic in the ICCU for 48 h.
Page 4 of 8 Y. Hasin et al.

. Patients with unstable coronary syndromes with The number of beds will be determined according to the
dynamic ST-shift and elevated cardiac troponins highest of the two.
should stay in the ICCU until 24 h after the latest
episode of ischaemia (non-invasive or planned invasive
treatment, as dictated by ESC guidelines). Number of beds in the intermediate cardiac
. High-risk ACS patients after acute PCI (with GP IIb/IIIa care unit
antagonists) should stay in the ICCU until the stable phase.
The desired ratio of beds between ICCU and the inter-
mediate CCU is 1:3.
Relocation policy

. Once stabilized, patients are transferred from the ICCU ICCU equipment
to a cardiac intermediate care unit (with a simple
electrocardiographic monitoring and run by cardiology (i) Patient monitoring unit: the basic patient monitoring
oriented staff) or to the general ward, according to unit must include at least two ECG channels, invasive
the local policy. After a short stay, an out-of-hospital pressure channel, non-invasive blood pressure
specialized recreation facility is recommended prior monitor, and an SaO2 metre. It is desirable that 50%
to going back home. An alternative route is outpatient of the beds include the following additional basic
rehabilitation clinic. parameters: five ECG channels, two additional
. It is advisable to discuss the following with the patient haemodynamic channels, end tidal CO2, non-invasive
in the presence of one of their dominant family cardiac output, and thermometer.
members: medications, return to activities, risk (ii) Nurse station: to be used for central monitoring and
factors and life-style modifications, a healthy diet, analysing. At least one ECG lead from each patient
and recommendations for future tests (invasive and as well as relevant haemodynamic and respiratory
non-invasive) including an appointment for the data should continuously be present on a central
outpatient follow-up clinic; this should be done screen. Slave monitors should be installed to enable
shortly before their discharge from the ICCU. monitoring of patients from different sites of the
unit, as well as working stations for retrospec-
Intermediate cardiac care unit patients tive analysis of index events, i.e. changes in heart
rate, rhythm disturbances, ST-events (ST-segment
Decision to admit a patient to the intermediate ward is at changes algorithm), heart rate variability, blood
the discretion of the treating physician, and according pressure, O2 saturation, and so on.
to the local policy at the particular institution.16 It is
recommended to consider the following conditions: Patients beds for the ICCU
(i) intermediate risk unstable coronary syndrome Beds in the ICCU have to allow vertical movement, with
patients; the possibility of up and down head and leg positioning.
(ii) patients in first stages of recovery from myocardial Every bed must be equipped with oxygen, vacuum, and
infarction; compressed-air intakes. It is desirable that one of
(iii) patients with uncontrollable cardiac insufficiency the beds be suitable for patients with active conta-
not responsive to regular oral therapy, especially gious infectious diseases (e.g. methicillin resistant
those with co-morbidities; Staphylococcus aureus, HIV, tuberculosis, etc.) and
(iv) patients with heart disease in need of medical therapy filtered accordingly.
adjustment, special cardiac investigations (e.g. elec- It is important to make sure that the patient can be
trophysiological study, cardiac catheterization, etc.), X-rayed on the bed.
or some of the patients after special cardiac procedure
(e.g. implantation of permanent pacemaker or internal Additional equipment17
cardiac defibrillators).
. Volumetric pump/automatic syringe: four to six per
bed;
Number of beds in the ICCU . mechanical respirators (including CPAP delivery system
to use with face mask): one machine per two beds;
The number of beds in the ICCU must suit the size of the
. intra-aortic balloon pump: one consol every three
reference population and the relative specific workload
beds, up to the first six patients;
of the hospital. The hospitals specific workload can be
. haemodyalisis/haemofiltration machine: should be
evaluated in a number of ways: the simplest measure of
available (probably more cost effective if supplied by
the relative workload is the number of visits to the hospi-
the nephrology department);
tals internal emergency room.
. pacemaker defibrillator (possibly biphasic): one appar-
Recommended formula for calculation:
atus every three beds;
(i) for each 100 000 inhabitants, four to five ICCU beds; . external pacemaker: one to two every six to eight beds;
(ii) for every 100 000 visits per year in the internal . temporary pacemakers: three to four VVI and one DDD
emergency room, 10 ICCU beds. every six to eight beds;
ESC recommendations for structure, origanization, and operation of ICCUs Page 5 of 8

. mobile echocardiography machine: one (consider a Nurses

portable one, according to future technology develop-
ment), including a TEE probe; Nurses are as important as physicians. Proper nursing
. blood clot metre (ACT): one; staff is the strength of the ICCU. A head nurse for the
. biochemical markers kits, for myocardial infarction, ICCU is appointed with authority and responsibility for
optional (to be omitted provided that the biochemistry the appropriateness of nursing care; they must have
tests are in the central laboratory in ,30 min; extensive experience in intensive care nursing and
. glucose level measurement kit: one; proper medical managerial skills, must be able to
. blood gasses and electrolyte analyser: optional (to be conduct routine nursing activity of the unit, must be
omitted provided that the results of the blood gas involved in the on-going training of the unit staff, and
and electrolyte tests come back from the central lab must take an active part in research activities. The
within 10 min); ICCU will employ only registered nurses. At least 75% of
. X-ray system for fluoroscopy: digital cardiac mobile them should have completed formal intensive care train-
C-arm enabling coronary angiography is recommended; ing (which includes formal cardiology training).18
* Ideally, a fully equipped catheterization and PCI lab- A unified recommendation for the size of the nursing staff
oratory should be in close association with the Unit is an intricate issue hampered by the divergence of nursing
and ready to perform invasive procedure on a 24 h working habits and skills, case-mix of patients, and different
basis. Therapeutic Interventions Scoring System levels.19
* An alternative route would be an available mobile The following recommendation is based on the estimated
unit to transfer a patient in need to a near by cathe- workload of an average ICCU, the calculated Whole Time
terization laboratory. Equivalents,20 and the personal experience of the authors.
mechanical compression devices used for groin and Furthermore, allocating nursing manpower should take
radial homeostasis: optional. into account the need for the number of shifts per day,
the number of beds in the units, the desired occupancy
rate, extra manpower for holidays, and the ability to trans-
ICCU and intermediate CCU staff
fer the nurses from one facility to the other (intensive to
. (physicians: cardiologists/residents in cardiology/ intermediate to cardiology and vice versa).
cardiology fellows) The nursing staff should be constructed of at least 2.8
. Physicians (day time shift): nurses per bed, to cover three shifts per day, so that the
. Department head: a certified cardiologist. minimal number of nurses in a given time will be at least
. First six beds: one physician every three beds. one nurse per two beds during day time and one per three
. If more than six beds: one physician every four beds. beds during night shift.21,22
The intensive care nurse should have further training
The ICCU should be staffed by at least one physician for once in at least 5 years in the general intensive care
every three to four patients, including the Unit director. unit. It is also advisable that further training courses be
The director of the Unit should be a board certified car- reciprocal so that the nurses working in the general
diologist, specially trained and accreditated as an acute intensive care unit could work in the cardiac intensive
cardiac care specialist, as cardiologists are the physicians care unit as well.
better trained to assist patients with ACS and life-
threatening cardiac diseases. Intermediate cardiac care unit staff
The cardiologist in charge of the ICCU should be skilled
in treating urgent cardiac situations, including rhythm and . Department head: a certified cardiologist.
haemodynamic disturbances and acute ischaemia. The . First 12 beds: one physician every six beds.
cardiologist must be skilled at inserting an endotracheal . If more than 12 beds: one physician every eight beds.
tube, a temporary pacemaker, a catheter in the pulmo- . Nurses: 1.8 nurses per bed.
nary artery, and a balloon in aorta for counter-pulsation.
The cardiologist should be able to perform a transthoracic Additional staff
echo study on a basic level (i.e. evaluate the left ventricle
systolic function, identify severe valvular disease, and find . Secretary and nurse assistant full time.
pericardial fluid) and should have further training in the . Dietician, computer expert (hardware and software),
general intensive care unit. ventilation technician, social worker, physiotherapist,
porters, and cleanerspart time.

On-duty and on-call physicians ICCU and intermediate CCU: construction2325

A skilled physician on duty should be present in the Unit (i) The cardiac intensive care unit/intermediate unit/
at all times. This physician should be able to handle acute cardiac ward should be constructed as an indepen-
cardiac emergencies after short local training and dent ward in the hospital.26
approval for night duties by the director of the unit. An (ii) The desired intensive care unit standard is a separ-
attending cardiologist on call should always be available ate room for each patient and up to two to three
for consultation and assistance. patients per one room in the intermediate unit.
Page 6 of 8 Y. Hasin et al.

(iii) There should be at least one single bedroom with the physicians (cardiologists, anaesthesiologists,
the possibility to isolate patients with contagious nurses, technicians) and multitude of bulky equip-
infection. ment (X-ray machine, heavy monitoring, intra-
(iv) The architecture of the unit should be designed to aortic balloon pump) necessary to initiate treatment
make it possible to observe the patients from the for a complicated acute case. The minimal area
nurses monitoring station and to have easy and should be 25 m2. The room must have washable
fast access. walls for 2 m in height. Construction should fit
(v) The station should be in a central position and well requirement for the use of X-ray fluoroscopy.
equipped, and the surrounding area will be spa- (vii) The electrical equipment should have an emer-
cious so as to afford optimal working conditions. gency feeding and a continuity apparatus.
(vi) The separate intensive care procedure room (viii) Windows in the intensive care ward are desirable,
should be spacious enough so that it can contain all but not a pre-requisite.

Summary table

Intensive CCU Intermediate CCU

Patients STEMIany patient. Within 24 h. High-risk patients, ACS patients with intermediate
cardiogenic shock risk
High risk unstable coronary syndromes First stages of recovery from MI
Arrhythmiaslife-threatening cardiac arrhythmias Uncontrollable cardiac insufficiency
Post-PCIunstable/high-risk patients
Haemodynamic monitoringfor evaluation of therapy s/p heart
transplant with acute problem massive PE
Length of stay Primarily planned to be at least 24 days
STEMI without complications48 h
Unstable ACSuntil 24 h after the latest ischaemic episode
High-risk ACSuntil stabilized (medication, revascularization)
Beds The highest of the following: for each 100 000 inhabitants, Ratio of ICCU/intermediate beds
four to five ICCU beds or for every 100 000 visits per year is 1:3
in the internal emergency room, 10 ICCU beds
Monitoring unit Bedside: two ECG channels, invasive pressure, non-invasive Bedside: two ECG channels,
pressure, SaO2 metre non-invasive pressure, SaO2 metre
Fifty per cent of the beds will include the following additional
basic parameters: five ECG channels, two additional
haemodynamic channels, end tidal CO2, non-invasive
cardiac output, and thermometer
Central station One ECG lead from each patient, relevant haemodynamic One ECG lead from each patient
and respiratory data Working station for
Slave monitors retrospective analysis
Working station for retrospective analysis
Equipment Volumetric pump/automatic syringe, mechanical respirators, Volumetric pump/automatic syringe
intra-aortic balloon pump, external pacemaker/defibrillator, external pacemaker/defibrillator
temporary pacemakers, blood clot metre (ACT), glucose level glucose level measurement kit
measurement kit
Echocardiography, X-ray fluoroscopy
Optional Biochemical markers kits for myocardial infarction,
haemodyalisis/haemofiltration machine,
blood gasses and electrolyte analyser
Department head Certified cardiologist Certified cardiologist
Physicians First six beds: one physician for every three bed
More than 6 beds: one physician for every four beds
Nurses Day time: one nurse per two beds Day time: one nurse per four beds
Night shift: one nurse per three beds Night shift: one nurse per six beds
Additional staff Secretary and nurse assistant full time
Dietician, computer expert (hardware and software),
ventilation technician, social worker, physiotherapist, porters,
and cleanerspart time
Construction Separate room for each patient Two to three patient per one room
Central nurse station central nurse station
One room with isolation possibility
Procedure room (X-ray, heavy monitoring, IABP)
Dialysis facility
Other areas Staff room, meeting room, family waiting room, office, store room
ESC recommendations for structure, origanization, and operation of ICCUs Page 7 of 8

(ix) The lighting should be good, but not dazzling; It is recommended that the ICCU will use an electronic
lightning should be indirect. chart routinely. This could facilitate patient admission,
(x) A dialysis facility (source of water and sewage) discharge, and follow-up as well as research and quality
should be established in a few rooms as necessary. control. As several hardware and software facilities are
(xi) In larger intensive care units, one should consider available, and obviously many Units in Europe have
dividing the nurses station into two or three already implemented their own electronic chart, a
according to the number of beds. It is advised common European electronic chart would be an impracti-
that one nurses station should serve not more cal dream. Yet, some key items common to all electronic
than six to eight beds. charts could be chosen, transmitted through the inter-
(xii) The cardiac intensive care unit should be situated net, and will be used as a common European database
as close as possible to the emergency room, the for patient admitted to the different ICCUs.
catheterization lab, general intensive care unit, Recently, the European Society of Cardiology launched
and operating theatres (if available in the the Cardiology Audit and Registration Data Sets (CARDS)
institution). initiative, under the auspices of the European Union.27
(xiii) It is also desirable that the intensive care ambu- One of the three main issues in CARDS is ACS, and the
lance may have a direct access to the unit, so related Expert Committee on ACS published a report on
that in appropriate cases, a patient may be directly the data standards for a ICCUs DB on ACS. This data set
admitted, bypassing the emergency department. can constitute the common basis for all the different
databases in European ICCUs, allowing interoperability
and data sharing.
Other areas to be included Quality assurance should be an integral part of the
organization and standards of a ICCU: processes currently
(i) staff rooms (meeting the demands of the secretary,
considered effective for patients outcome, such as
medical staff, nursing staff, patient relatives inter-
adequately timed reperfusion and evidence-based care
view, physician on-call dormitory, head nurse, and
at discharge, should be monitored and quality control
director of the unit);
performed reviewed at least on an annual basis, together
(ii) meeting room;
with personnel and administrators.
(iii) family waiting room;
(iv) office;
(v) store room (a lot of electronic equipment that Conclusion
requires constant electricity recharge);
(vi) computer communicationsinter-departmental. The current recommendations have been written as a
Departments and laboratoriesan external system. guide and a rule for the function of a modern ICCU.
The exponential speed of changes in technology, pro-
cedures, and treatment policies will undoubtedly
provide a repeated need for updating these guidelines.
Database For instance, what will be the effect of chest pain units
(which are emerging throughout Europe) on the ICCU?
The computer system is regarded as a positive means of
In the near future, reference centres for primary or
collecting information, at local, national, and inter-
facilitated PCI for ST-elevation myocardial infarction, as
national levels. It facilitates everyday activities in
well as for early intervention in patients with non-ST-
patient management and data archiving. It can be used
elevation myocardial infarction, will play a key role in
as database and enables analysis of information and
the treatment of patients with ACS. The concept of
quality control. Nevertheless, there are objective diffi-
networking for the coordination among tertiary centres,
culties and obstacles on the way to adopt a uniform
community hospitals, emergency rooms, and transpor-
programme to be used as a continental database.
tation, might also result in a need for updating.
The lack of evidence-based recommendation on the
(i) Currently, there is no accepted optimal software for
structure and function of ICCUs call upon properly
cardiac intensive care patients.
designed studies looking at unresolved issues such as
(ii) Many of the cardiology departments in Europe have
numbers of ICCU beds required for a given populations
a computer system with or without connections to
size, specific equipment, required personnel, and alike.
similar systems within or out of the hospital.
(iii) Development of computerized systems depends
on strategic decisions made by different Health
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