An intensive care unit (ICU), also known as an intensive therapy unit or intensive treatment unit (ITU) or critical care unit (CCU), is a special department of a hospital or health care facility that provides intensive care medicine.

Intensive care units cater to patients with severe life threatening illnesses and injuries, which require constant care, close supervision from life support equipment and medication in order to ensure normal bodily function. They are staffed by highly trained physicians, nurses and respiratory therapist who specialize in caring for critically ill patients. ICUs are also distinguished from general hospital wards by a higher staff-to-patient ratio and access to advanced medical resources and equipment that is not routinely available elsewhere. Common conditions that are treated within ICUs includeacute respiratory distress syndrom, septic shock and other life-threatening conditions.

Patients may be referred directly from anemergency department or from a ward if they rapidly deteriorate, or immediately after surgery if the surgery is very invasive and the patient is at high risk of complications.