The Lagos State Government has built a high-tech Critical Care Unit (CCU) at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Ikeja. The new unit occupies a three-floor edifice and has state-of-the-art treatment and monitoring equipment seen only in world-class CCUs.
Right from the Ground floor, the automatic glass door opens and leads one to the elevators, which are designed to suit the patients as they allow for the easy movement of patient’s bed and accommodate the staff handling same.
The First Floor has in-house laboratory, and the patient has no need to go out for such services. The laboratory also enables the medics to arrive at a quicker decision on the patient.
The theatre has infrared light and medic compliant taps to curtail the spread of contaminants. The operating lights have recording device that help record the operations to be done, or allow for live transmission to any part of the world for teaching purposes.
The operating bed is multi functional, as it helps a doctor to place his patient in the best position for surgery. The beds can be electronically adjusted- high, low, tilted or even angled. It can also be elongated to accommodate tall patients, or turned to a chair to suit the patient’s needs.
The Anesthesia machine has an in-built Ventilator that guarantees reduction of post surgery complication.
At the centre of the building is the Nurses’ station, where the nurses have direct observation of the patients and those in the isolation wards. It also has a close circuit TV.
The Recovery room in the complex has adaptive and assistive equipment for full recovery of patients. The six dialysis machines are well laid out in a clean, comfortable and conducive environment, while the staff lounge is equipped with internet facility for quick research.
The Second Floor is the Private Ward, which has a sit-out area where a patient can enjoy some fresh air, with a clear view of the surrounding area.
The Third Floor hosts the consulting room for private patients who do not want to be attended to at the general clinic. The floor also houses the Pharmacy, the Call room and Administrative Offices for staff on night duty.
Director, CCU and a Fellow of American College of Surgeons, Dr Ade Tinubu, said the concept of the edifice was his, but the funding came 100 per cent from the Lagos State Government, noting that there is power supply round the clock and the ceilings of the building are fire resistant.
Some of the equipments at the unit are cardiac or heart monitors, pulse oximeter, which allows the critical care team to monitor the saturation of oxygen in the blood, There is also a Swan-Ganz or pulmonary artery catheter, for knowing the amount of fluid filling the heart as well as determine how the heart functions.
Tinubu said: “Central venous catheter (CVC) is a type of catheter that is soft, pliable and is inserted into a large vessel (vein) in the neck (internal jugular vein), in the upper chest (subclavian vein), or in the groin area (femoral vein).
“There is a Ceiling Pendant that supplies medical gases and electrical supply to the patient’s bed side. So also Intravenous (IV), which is a plastic catheter (tube) that is inserted into the veins (peripheral IV) or a larger size catheter inserted into the larger veins of the neck. Fluids, medications, nutrition preparations, and blood products are administered through IV catheters. Patients in ICU often have multiple IVs. Chest tubes are inserted through the chest wall into the space around the lung to drain fluid or air that has accumulated and prevent the lung from being able to expand.
“Good quality chest tubes are available. Chest tubes are inserted through the chest wall into the space around the lungs to drain fluid or air that has accumulated and prevent the lung from being able to expand.
“The CCU boasts of urinary catheters, often referred to as Foley catheters, which are inserted through the urethra into the bladder. Once in the bladder the catheter is kept in place by a balloon, which is inflated, at the end of the catheter. Urinary catheters continuously drain the bladder and allow for accurate measurement of urinary output, which is extremely important in fluid management and in assessing kidney function. Endotracheal tubes are used when mechanical ventilation is necessary.”
According to him, the complex also has multiple ventilator, or respirator, a breathing machine that helps patients breathe when they can not breathe on their own. A patient is connected to the ventilator by an endotracheal tube (a flexible plastic tube that is inserted into the mouth and then down into the trachea).
“Nutrition is very important for the critically ill. Even though the ICU patient is immobile and does not appear to require ‘food’ for energy, the illness or injury that has required the patient to be in the ICU increases the patient’s basal metabolic rate (a measure of the rate of metabolism). Adequate nutrition is essential to the healing process.”
“Nutritional solutions can be administered through feeding tubes inserted through either the nose or the mouth into the stomach or through central venous catheters. The stomach route is preferred, as long as the patient’s GI tract is working and able to tolerate feeding. Special nutritional preparations are available to provide the nutritional needs of the critically ill. The nutritional needs are calculated and monitored closely by the nutritionist on the critical care team and are adjusted accordingly. This started with the former Health Commissioner, Dr Leke Pitan that showed interest in Open heart surgery which I was conscripted into. We offer first class services at the CCU,” said Dr Tinubu.
At the inuaguration of the unit, the Chief Medical Director (CMD), Prof Wale Oke assured that with the huge investment of the state government in completing the complex, it will definitely result into a major improvement in patients’ care in the hospital.
Commissioner of Health, Dr Jide Idris enjoined all to take ownership of the CCU, saying: “This belongs to us all. Refer your patients here. Nigeria is the next hub for Medical Tourism. Do not sabotage government’s effort on this.”
Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Mr Tunji Bello said the design and operation of the CCU will be deployed in the care of those in dire health condition that hitherto, predisposed people towards foreign medical tourism.
“It will complement the capacity of the existing Intensive Care Unit (ICU) established over 10 years. The combined capacities of these two healthcare facilities will enhance the status of Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) and the Lagos State University College of medicine (LASUCOM) as true centres for medical training and research. Ultimately, the facility will save from our nation scarce foreign exchange, of about $3 billion US dollar, which are spent annually on foreign medical tourism by Nigerians,” he said.
He added: “We are strongly committed to the task of reversing the trend of overseas medical tourism in favour of local medical tourism through the provision of the right and conducive atmosphere for qualitative medicare in our state.”
