Cardiothoracic Intensive Care

The Pediatric Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit at UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital is a state-of-the-art critical care unit dedicated to the management of infants and children with heart disease. Many of the patients admitted to the CTICU are admitted after heart surgery or cardiac transplantation. The pediatric CTICU also manages children with non-surgical problems, such as myocarditis or cardiomyopathy, children who are awaiting surgical procedures and children with other complex cardiac issues. In addition, patients who require mechanical support such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) or ventricular assist devices (VAD) are managed in the CTICU.  Physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists and other staff who provide care in the CTICU have special expertise in the unique clinical care of children with cardiac disease.