The Department of Critical Care Medicine at the Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (ZJU4H) is equipped with advanced monitoring and life-support technologies, including advanced mechanical ventilators, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), intra-aortic balloon pumps (IABP), and electrical impedance tomography (EIT).

With a highly experienced multidisciplinary team, the department provides advanced care for critically ill patients with severe infections, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), various forms of shock, multiple organ dysfunction, and neurological emergencies. The team has successfully treated numerous complex and critically ill patients, earning extensive media coverage and broad public recognition.

Since its establishment, the department has played a key role in major public health emergencies while continuously advancing critical care through innovative technologies, clinical excellence, education, and scientific research. It is committed to providing a vital safety net for critically ill patients across central Zhejiang Province.

The department has undertaken 2 provincial- or ministerial-level research projects, 7 departmental- or municipal-level projects, and 2 national continuing medical education programs, and has been granted 2 invention patents and 9 utility model patents. The team has also won multiple awards in provincial ECMO and CRRT skills competitions and received provincial honors, including the Workers’ Pioneer Award and the Women’s Civilization Post.

Specialty Highlights

1. Neurocritical Care
Multimodal neuromonitoring, including intracranial pressure, brain oxygenation, and EEG, guides individualized management of severe traumatic brain injury, acute cerebrovascular diseases, and related complications.

2. Sepsis and Related Complications
Advanced hemodynamic monitoring and critical care ultrasonography support individualized treatment of sepsis. The team has particular expertise in the assessment and management of sepsis-associated coagulation disorders and thrombocytopenia.

3. Individualized ARDS Management
ECMO, electrical impedance tomography (EIT), inhaled nitric oxide (INO), and bedside ultrasonography enable comprehensive assessment and advanced life support. As an early adopter of EIT in central Zhejiang, the department uses dynamic respiratory monitoring to guide individualized mechanical ventilation.

4. Cardiac Critical Care
The team provides comprehensive management for critically ill cardiac patients, including mechanical circulatory support, postoperative care following major cardiac surgery, and acute management of aortic dissection, with a focus on preventing complications and improving outcomes.