CCU
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Critical care unit |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
CCU has two meanings. It stands for Critical care unit (hospital) or Coronary care unit (cardiology).
Meanings of CCU at a glance
| # | CCU stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Critical care unit | Medical › Hospital |
| 2 | Coronary care unit | Medical › Cardiology |
1. Critical care unit
Medical · Hospital Abbreviations
General name some hospitals use for their intensive care area, especially smaller hospitals that combine medical, surgical and cardiac patients in one unit. It is effectively a synonym for ICU in those settings.
Example: Admitted to CCU for septic shock; second vasopressor added overnight.
Ambiguous because in many hospitals CCU means coronary care unit, a cardiac intensive care unit for heart attacks and arrhythmias. Staff should check which meaning their facility uses. Critical care nursing certification (CCRN) covers both settings.
2. Coronary care unit
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Intensive care unit for critically ill cardiac patients, such as those with acute myocardial infarction, cardiogenic shock, dangerous arrhythmias, mechanical circulatory support or decompensated heart failure. Many hospitals now call it the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU).
Example: Transferred to the CCU after an anterior STEMI complicated by cardiogenic shock and IABP placement.
The first coronary care units opened in the early 1960s in Edinburgh, Kansas City, Philadelphia and Toronto, combining continuous ECG monitoring with nurses trained to defibrillate, and in-hospital deaths after heart attack fell substantially. Today's units treat older, sicker patients with more noncoronary problems. In some hospitals the same letters mean critical care unit.
Related abbreviations
More hospital abbreviations
- BHU – Behavioral health unit
- CAH – Critical access hospital
- CAUTI – Catheter-associated urinary tract infection
- CCRC – Continuing care retirement community
- CDU – Clinical decision unit
- CHC – Community health center
- CLABSI – Central line-associated bloodstream infection
- CM – Case management
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More cardiology abbreviations
- CAD – Coronary artery disease
- CAS – Carotid artery stenting
- CCS – Canadian Cardiovascular Society
- CCTA – Coronary computed tomography angiography
- CEA – Carotid endarterectomy
- CHA2DS2-VASc – Congestive heart failure, Hypertension, Age 75 or older, Diabetes…
- CHB – Complete heart block
- CHD – Congenital heart disease
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.