Life-saving and life-support care

Penn State Children’s Hospital Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) cares for children - infants to teens. Our expert team uses the most advanced life-saving and life-support techniques, including:

• Mechanical ventilation (breathing machine)
• Hemodynamic monitoring and support (measures blood flow, pressure and oxygen in the heart, veins and arteries)
• Renal dialysis (machines that work for the kidneys)
• Pre- and post-surgery support for brain trauma patients
• Invasive and noninvasive neurointensive monitoring (such as checking oxygen levels in the brain) for brain injury treatment
• Pre and post-surgery support for infants and children with heart disease, organ transplants and toxicological emergencies (poisoning or medicine overdose)
• High frequency ventilation (breathing machines that ventilate many times faster than normal machines, and may help lower the risk of lung injury)
• Nitric oxide therapy (treats life-threatening lung problems)
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (life support that works for a child’s heart and lungs)

Ventilator programs

• Home Ventilator Program
• PA Vent Camp