critical condition

The person’s vital signs are unstable and outside of their normal limits. They may be unconscious. The doctor expects the outcome to be poor, or they can’t predict how the person will fare.


You might also hear the word “critical” used to describe the type of treatment someone needs. People with life-threatening illnesses or injuries need critical care, usually in a hospital’s intensive care unit (ICU).

If they need treatments to help them stay alive (called life support), they can also get those in the ICU. A few types of life support are:

A machine that helps you breathe, called a ventilator
Techniques to restart a stopped heart, like CPR and electric shocks (defibrillation)
Tube feeding to give you nutrients and hydration
Life support treatments don't necessarily mean a patient's condition is life-threatening. Sometimes doctors use them temporarily until the person is well enough to function on their own.

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