Pediatric critical care at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital provides the highest level of care for children with a life-threatening illness or injury. Our highly experienced critical care doctors and care teams deliver advanced care, including the diagnosis, monitoring and delivery of specialized medications and treatments. Highly skilled and compassionate care teams deliver care for conditions including:
- Cancer and blood disorders
- Chronic illness
- Congenital heart disease
- Infections, including meningitis and sepsis
- Near-drowning
- Organ failure, including heart, lung, liver, kidney failure and multi-organ failure
- Respiratory distress (severe breathing problems)
A multispecialty team dedicated to your child’s care
If your child is critically ill or injured and receiving care in the PICU, pediatric intensive care specialists (intensivists) are at the center of your child’s care team – coordinating and managing their care with experienced and highly trained nurses and other pediatric specialists. Your child’s pediatric intensivist works closely with other specialists at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, including pediatric respiratory therapists, pediatric surgeons, pediatric heart specialists, pediatric neurologists, pediatric neurosurgeons, pediatric orthopedic surgeons, pediatric rehabilitation specialists, pediatric dietitians and more. Your child’s team of specialists work together to deliver comprehensive care for your child.
Delivering the most advanced care for serious illness and injury
Advanced care for children with critical illness and injury at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital:
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Advanced Pediatric Trauma Center
Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital delivers advanced trauma care for children across the region with severe illness or injury – with a Level I Pediatric Trauma Center in Indianapolis and a Level II Pediatric Trauma Center in Evansville.
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Pediatric Surgery Center
If your child needs surgery, have confidence knowing pediatric surgeons at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital have the expertise to deliver surgical care for even the tiniest and most fragile patients. Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis is a Level I Children's Surgical Program designated by the American College of Surgeons – meaning we deliver the highest level of pediatric surgical care.
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Continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT)
When your child has a chronic kidney condition or kidney injury, their kidneys do not filter blood the way they should. At Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis, we provide dialysis, a treatment that helps do the job of the kidneys. It can help support your child until their kidney function improves or until they have a kidney transplant. For children in the hospital who need continuous dialysis, we work with pediatric nephrologists (kidney doctors) to provide 24/7 dialysis.
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Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis provides ECMO therapy for children across the region. ECMO delivers advanced care for patients with life-threatening lung and heart conditions who are critically ill. ECMO may also be used while a child is waiting for a heart or lung transplant. When other therapies are not working for the patient, this advanced technology is used to take over the job of the heart and lungs temporarily. It provides respiratory support and blood circulation – allowing the lungs and heart to rest while your child is recovering from serious illness or injury.
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Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)
Our NICUs deliver advanced care for critically ill newborns and those born prematurely. Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis is a Level IV NICU – meaning we deliver the highest level of care for critically ill newborns and those born prematurely. In Evansville, we have a Level III NICU.
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Pediatric sedation
Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis and Evansville have care teams who specialize in pediatric sedation. Sometimes, sedation is used to help your child feel more at ease or to help reduce pain. Sedation is the use of medications to help your child relax and remain comfortable during medical procedures. There is a wide range of sedation – from light to deep. In light sedation, your child is awake, relaxed and able to answer questions normally. In deep sedation, your child is asleep and does not respond to touch or sound. Our care team is also experienced in working with children with special needs and complex medical conditions.
Supportive care for your family
Supportive care is also available to your family. Certified child life specialists, social workers and chaplains are part of your care team. Together, we deliver care that supports your family while your child is in the PICU. Whether you need emotional support, financial support, or a place to stay near your child – we can help connect you with the support and other services your family needs.
If you need a place to stay while your child is getting care at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, talk with your care team. Our social workers can help you find a place for your family to stay, including at Ascension St. Vincent House in Indianapolis and the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Evansville.
Transfer a patient to the PICU at Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital
Our PICU provides care for children throughout Indiana. Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital is dedicated to your child’s safety and well-being even before they arrive at our hospital. We have a dedicated pediatric transport team to bring children directly to a higher level of care in the PICU or any of our pediatric departments. Our transport team has the specialized skills and advanced technology to care for children while they are being transported, and they have constant access to the medical teams that will be providing care for your child in the hospital to provide a seamless transition.