Inhaltsbereich

Critical care is a multi-disciplinary field – from the fundamental research through to the sickbed of the intensive care patient. A particular point of focus is quality assurance, above all in relation to long term damage prevention and rehabilitation support measures. Therefore, critical care is an important partner for the performance of clinical studies in the pharmaceutical industry.

Critical care encompasses those departments of MedUni Vienna that dedicate themselves to experimental and biomedical fundamental research as well as clinical research of intensive care related disease patterns.
Around twelve experimental laboratories are involved in theoretical and clinical fundamental research. Clinical research takes place at the 18 intensive care units of the AKH, the acute care departments as well as the operation departments. The patient structure encompasses all age groups; 120 doctors work in these departments.

The field has recently turned over more than EUR 2.5 million in funding; an amount, which due to significant funding from industry could be increased threefold. An EU project in this field of research was also developed, coordinated and brought to a successful conclusion. The extensive scientific work in this field is published in prominent journals and the personnel of the intensive care units of the Medical University of Vienna are highly respected at an international level.

• Molecular genetic examinations of intensive care related disease patterns
• Cell culture work for compiling immunological mechanisms and changes to the metabolism in relation to intensive care related disease patterns
• Endotoxin models on mice with sepsis in order to study organ changes and their prevention
• Atraumatic cardiovascular failure model on pigs in order to study new methods of recovering the cardiovascular and neurological functions

Overlapping research tasks:

• Compiling degree of severity, organ damage, scope of therapy and outcome of various intensive care related illnesses
• Epidemiology intensive care condition indicators
• Legal and ethical problems associated with intensive therapy interventions
• Psychological requirements of intensive care

Pathophysiological-diagnostic examinations:

• CNS and brain function disorders associated with metabolic, traumatic, vascular and hypoxic incidents
• Heart failure: studies related to monitoring organ functions and compiling the degree of severity
• Resistance to infection and function of the immune system in relation to various intensive care related illnesses and therapeutic interventions
• Liver failure: clinical studies related to monitoring the organ functions and compiling the degree of severity, "bridging" before transplants
• Lung failure: studying causes and compiling the degree of severity
• Kidney failure: monitoring organ functions and compiling the degree of severity
• Metabolic decompensation and coagulation failure in relation to intensive care related illnesses

Focus of therapeutic intervention studies

• CNS and brain function disorders: medication studies and mild hypothermia treatment for hypoxic and/or posttraumatic brain damage
• Heart failure: mechanical and pharmacological support of the heart function
• In event of cardiac arrest: early defibrillation, public access defibrillation, mechanical aid for heart massage
• Immune stimulation through pharmacological and nutritive factors
• Liver failure: measures to promote liver regeneration and extracorporeal liver replacement
• Lung failure: measures to optimise the respiratory mechanics and respiration technology, extracorporeal lung replacement
• Kidney failure: extracorporeal kidney replacement
• Metabolic decompensation: pharmacological measures to normalise the metabolism
• Coagulation therapy in order to normalise coagulation
• Detoxification therapy for exogenous poisoning
• Hyperbaric oxygen therapy
• Treatment for burns

Continue to: Metabolism and nutrition (Clinical Program)