Surgical Critical Care & Trauma

Integrated Clinical Care for Critically Ill and Injured Patients

Loyola Medicine provides integrated, comprehensive surgical critical care and trauma care to some of the region’s most critically ill and injured patients at our Level I Trauma Center and internationally acclaimed Burn Center.

Each year, our emergency department provides nearly 45,000 patients with timely care from emergency and trauma doctors, as well as specialists in orthopaedic surgery, cardiology, neurosurgery, neurology, anesthesiology, radiology, internal medicine and critical care.

In addition, the American College of Surgeons (ACS) has verified the status of Loyola’s trauma center; Loyola is one of only two hospitals in Illinois to earn this distinction.

Because of the reputation of Loyola’s Trauma Center, our dedicated staff of surgeons, doctors, nurses and technicians routinely treat some of the most acutely ill patients, providing quality care based on fine-tuned protocols. We provide advanced care for many trauma injuries and conditions, including:

• Acute abdominal injuries
• Advanced infections
• Burns
• Complex bone breaks
• Ruptures and tears of major arteries/veins
• Severe thoracic injuries
• Trauma injuries to the spine and neck

What Conditions are Treated with Surgical Critical Care and Trauma?

Treatment often begins even before you arrive at Loyola’s Level I Trauma Center. Our staff is ready for any type of emergency, with highly trained specialists from numerous fields of medicine. Our care team is in constant contact with your emergency transport team.

Once you arrive, you will be quickly evaluated and treated in an emergency bay or an intensive care unit, depending on your condition. Our emergency services team will provide individualized treatment for your condition and has experience treating a wide range of surgical critical care and trauma cases, including:

• Acute abdominal injury — Whether you have a blunt or penetrating injury, our experienced surgeons will quickly assess your condition and determine the best course of action. Your surgeon may order imaging tests or conduct procedures to assess the severity of the wound. If surgery is your best option, your surgeon will explain to you or a family member what to expect.
• Advanced infections — Some infections, such as peritonitis, can be life-threatening and must be treated right away—sometimes with surgery. Peritonitis can develop from a ruptured appendix, stomach or colon. 
• Burns — Loyola’s Burn Center is one of the busiest in the Midwest, treating nearly 600 people each year—of which about 40 percent are children. Loyola offers multidisciplinary care for adults and children with thermal burns, electrical injuries, chemical burns, frostbite, toxic epidermal necrolysis, inhalation injury and complex soft tissue infections. Burn patients are immediately evaluated and provided pain management. Your skilled care team will quickly start treatment for your specific injury. 
• Complex bone breaks — Compound fractures that break the skin often require critical care treatment, especially if they involve damage to blood vessels or nerves or infection of the bone and surrounding tissue. These fractures can be caused by a variety of accidents, including car crashes, motorcycle accidents and falls from ladders. 
• Rupture or tear of major arteries and veins — Injuries from a stab wound, aneurysm or dismemberment require immediate critical care. Our team has vast experience in treating these kinds of critical medical emergencies. 
• Severe thoracic injury — Lung lacerations or punctures, penetrating rib fractures or crushing injuries can be very serious and must be treated right away. You will be triaged and treated by our widely acclaimed thoracic surgical team. 
• Trauma injury to neck and spine — Injuries to the spine and neck must be treated right away to limit or prevent further damage. Loyola has broken new ground with its spine program, in which neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons collaborate on complex cases.

Specialized Services for Fast and Comprehensive Medical Attention

Loyola’s surgical critical care and trauma specialists provide comprehensive care in our Level I Trauma Center and internationally acclaimed Burn Center.

Loyola’s center is the go-to place for burn treatment, both during initial injury and for follow-up care. Our researchers routinely publish their findings on the mechanisms of burn recovery.

Advanced Research to Improve Treatment of Burns, Trauma and Shock

Loyola’s Burn and Shock Trauma Research Institute has established an international reputation for its research in post-burn immunosuppression, wound healing and nutritional support. Our clinicians and resident scientists study clinical, pathophysiologic and epidemiologic problems in trauma, shock and burns.

The institute supports an injury prevention program, which conducts community outreach activities. A number of joint educational programs are also offered through the Trauma Center and the Burn and Shock Trauma Research Institute.