Critical Care

The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina’s Children’s Health is the regional leader in state of the art care of critically ill infants, children and adolescents in South Carolina. Opening in 1987, the interdisciplinary pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at MUSC is a 28-bed medical-surgical unit staffed by 14 board certified pediatric intensivists, as well as by highly skilled and specially trained pediatric nurses, respiratory therapists, clinical pharmacists, child life specialists, physical, occupational and speech therapists, nurse case managers, and dieticians. MUSC Children’s Health has a separate 29- bed heart center. Our pediatric critical care team believes in family-centered care and strives to include patients and families in shared decision-making throughout their stay.

The MUSC PICU has an expanding telemedicine program with our referral institutions. Emergency department and inpatient physicians from several Lowcountry hospitals can call in to request a telemedicine consultation by MUSC pediatric intensivists. These video links provide a valuable opportunity to see the patient, meet the family and offer timely medical advice to the referral team.

MUSC was the first South Carolina children’s hospital to receive the Level I Trauma Center designation by the American College of Surgeons and we are the pediatric transplant center for SC. In addition, our pediatric surgical colleagues and burn nurses provide outstanding care for the state’s only pediatric burn program.

Training Programs

The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine is active in the education of nursing, pharmacy, respiratory therapy, nutrition, and medical students at MUSC as well as pediatric and emergency medicine resident physicians.

Research Programs

• The Division of Pediatric Critical Care Medicine is an active member of the PALISI (Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators) research network.
• MUSC Children's Health is an active participant in Solutions for Patient Safety, Child Health PSO, & Improving Sepsis Outcomes collaboratives.

Clinical Services

• Comprehensive management of the critically ill or injured pediatric patient 

• Conventional mechanical ventilation

• High-frequency mechanical ventilation

• Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation

• Inhaled nitric oxide

• Hemodynamic management, including PiCC02 monitoring

• Ultrasound guided vascular access

• Pediatric extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)

• Continuous renal replacement therapies (CRRT)

• Continuous video electroencephalographic (EEG) monitoring

• Intracranial pressure monitoring

Contact Us

MUSC Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Attn: Elyse Watson
Rutledge Tower
135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 561
Charleston, SC 29425
Phone: 843-792-2618
Fax: 843-792-3022
Email: pedscritical@musc.edu