High-dependency unit

A high-dependency unit is an area in a hospital, usually located close to the intensive care unit, where patients can be cared for more extensively than on a normal ward, but not to the point of intensive care. It is appropriate for patients who have had major surgery and for those with single-organ failure. Many of these units were set up in the 1990s when hospitals found that a proportion of patients was requiring a level of care that could not be delivered in a normal ward setting.[1] This is thought to be associated with a reduction in mortality.[1] Patients may be admitted to an HDU bed because they are at risk of requiring intensive care admission, or as a step-down between intensive care and ward-based care.[1]

For the New Zealand rock band, see High Dependency Unit (band). For the psychiatric facility, see High dependency unit (mental health).

In 2000 the UK Department of Health issued the Comprehensive Critical Care report, which set out the number of high dependency ("level 2") beds a hospital should have to deliver care appropriately. By this time, two thirds of UK hospitals had beds identified as "high dependency".[2] The report defines level 2 care as "more detailed observations or intervention including support for a single failing organ system or postoperative care and those 'stepping down' from higher levels of care".[2]

If positive airway pressure ventilation is used to treat respiratory failure, this may be administered in a high dependency unit or equivalent area.[1][3]

References
  1. Griffiths MJ, Evans TW (January 2002). "The pulmonary physician in critical care: towards comprehensive critical care?". Thorax. 57 (1): 77–8. doi:10.1136/thorax.57.1.77. PMC 1746189. PMID 11809995.
  2. Day V, Adam S, Asbridge J, et al. (2000). Comprehensive critical care: review of adult critical care services (PDF). London: Department of Health.
  3. Nava S, Hill N (July 2009). "Non-invasive ventilation in acute respiratory failure". Lancet. 374 (9685): 250–9. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(09)60496-7. PMC 7138083. PMID 19616722.
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