Head of the Department: Krzysztof Szczepanik, MD, anesthesiology and critical care specialist
The Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care comprises:
Anesthesiology Unit: tel. +48 41 367 4424
Critical Care Unit: tel. +48 41 367 4377
Centre of Intensified Postoperative Control: tel. +48 41 367 4203
Consultative Anesthesiology Clinic: tel.
The Department focuses on:
treatment of stationary patients in life-threatening conditions,
anesthesia and sedation of patients for surgical procedures as well as diagnostic tests,
supervision and care of patients in the immediate postoperative period at the Centre Intensified Postoperative Control,
implantation of vascular ports in patients undergoing chemotherapy.
The Critical Care unit has 5 full-profile stations equipped with modern respirators and monitoring systems of key vital signs, including one station in a single room with a private bathroom. There is also a treatment room where minor surgical procedures are performed. A device that allows use of continuous renal replacement techniques is used in our treatment. The Department has a 24-hour access to imaging tests (ultrasound, CT, MRI, endoscopy) and a wide range of laboratory and microbiological tests.
Each operating room in the operating suite and treatment rooms at the Holy Cross Cancer Centre have a high-class machines for general anesthesia and monitors that allow control not only the parameters of the cardio-respiratory system but also anesthetic depth (BIS, entropy). In some cases it is possible to use high frequency ventilation. In addition to general anesthesia, conduction anesthesia, including continuous anesthesia in order to eliminate postoperative pain, are conducted. The Centre of Intensified Postoperative Control is equipped with 6 stations monitoring vital signs of patients immediately after surgery.
The Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care conducts research on, among others, various aspects of anesthesia, intravenous sedation in children who underwent magnetic resonance, treatment of pain using a subarachnoid catheters, prevention and treatment of nosocomial infections, and safety of patients and medical staff. We are accredited by the Ministry of Health to train specialist doctors in the field of anesthesiology and critical care.
