Medical Oncologist
CION Cancer Clinics
What the ICU looks like: a guide for families | CION Cancer Clinics
When you walk into the ICU after cancer surgery, you will see your family member in a raised bed surrounded by screens, drips and tubes, with a nurse close by. It usually looks far more alarming than it is. This guide explains the equipment, why your person may look swollen or confused, how an ICU day runs, and how to prepare yourself. CION Cancer Clinics’ surgical oncologists in Hyderabad can talk this through with you.
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Medically reviewed by Dr. Muralidhar MuddusettyConsultant Surgical Oncologist · MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery, AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh) · last reviewed September 2026, next review due September 2027
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On this page
- What will you see when you walk into the ICU?
- What is all the equipment around the bed?
- Why does my mother look and act so different?
- Who are all the people at the bedside?
- What does a typical day in the ICU look like?
- How can you prepare yourself for the first visit?
- What do families believe about the ICU that is not true?
- Common questions from families about the ICU
The short answer
What will you see when you walk into the ICU?
You will see your family member lying in a raised bed, surrounded by screens, drips and tubes, with a nurse close by. It usually looks far more alarming than it is, and most of the equipment is there to watch, not to treat an emergency.
The room itself
ICUs are bright, busy and never quiet. Beds sit in bays or small cubicles, often with a curtain or glass wall between them. Machines beep often. Staff move quickly between beds, and the lights may stay on at night. None of that is a sign that your person is getting worse.
Before you go in
You will be asked to wash your hands or use the sanitiser, and sometimes to wear a gown, cap or mask. Phones may need to be switched to silent. Leave bags, food and flowers outside. If you feel faint, say so and sit down. It happens to many visitors on the first visit.
What this guide cannot tell you
Every ICU runs a little differently, and every patient's care is different. The nurse at the bedside is the right person to explain what each machine is doing for your family member today.
Around the bed
What is all the equipment around the bed?
Your family member may not have all of these. Ask the nurse to point out which ones are in use.
The monitor
A screen above the bed shows moving lines and numbers for heart rhythm, blood pressure, breathing and oxygen. It alarms when a reading changes or a sticker slips.
Drip pumps
A stack of small boxes pushes fluids and medicines through the lines at a set speed. They beep when a syringe is nearly empty.
Breathing support
This may be an oxygen mask, soft tubes under the nose, or a breathing machine connected to a tube in the mouth.
A person with a breathing tube cannot speak, but may still hear you.Tubes from the body
Drains from the wound, a urine catheter and sometimes a thin tube through the nose into the stomach.
Please do not
- Lift or move any tube or bag
- Press buttons on a machine
- Sit on the bed without asking
Not sure whether this applies to you?
Ask an oncologistYour family member
Why does my mother look and act so different?
After a major operation people often look puffy, pale and very sleepy, and some are confused. These changes are common in the ICU and most of them fade over the following days.
Swelling and colour
Fluids given during and after surgery can make the face, hands and eyelids swell. The skin may look pale or blotchy. Bruises can appear around drip sites. The team tracks fluids carefully and the swelling usually eases as the body gets rid of the extra.
Sleepiness and confusion
Pain medicines, sedation and broken sleep make people drowsy. Some become muddled, restless or frightened, or say things that make no sense. This is called delirium, a sudden confusion that is common in intensive care. It is not the person you know losing their mind, and it usually settles.
Soft ties on the wrists
In some ICUs a confused person has soft mittens or wrist ties so they cannot pull out a breathing tube or line. It is distressing to see. Ask the nurse why they are needed and when they can come off.
The ICU team
Who are all the people at the bedside?
- Intensivist
- A doctor who specialises in intensive care. They lead the daily plan for breathing, blood pressure and fluids.
- Surgical team
- The surgeon and junior doctors who did the operation. They check the wound, drains and anything to do with the surgery itself.
- ICU nurse
- Stays closest to your family member all shift and notices changes first. The best person to ask day-to-day questions.
- Anaesthetist
- May visit to check pain relief, especially if there is an epidural tube in the back.
- Physiotherapist
- Helps with breathing, coughing and the first steps out of bed.
- Counsellor or social worker
- Some hospitals have one to support families with worry, paperwork and practical questions.
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The ICU day
What does a typical day in the ICU look like?
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Early morning care
Nurses wash the patient, change sheets, turn them to protect the skin and take blood samples. Visitors are often asked to wait during this time.
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The ward round
The ICU doctors and the surgical team review each patient, look at the overnight readings and set the plan for the day.
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Physiotherapy and moving
A physiotherapist helps with breathing exercises and, when it is safe, sitting up or standing, even with tubes still in place.
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The family update
Most units have a set time when a doctor speaks to the family. Agree one person to receive it and pass it on to everyone else.
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Visiting and the evening
Short visits happen at set times. In the evening lights are dimmed where possible to help sleep, though checks carry on through the night.
For the family
How can you prepare yourself for the first visit?
- Ask the nurse at the door what you will see before you go in
- Bring spectacles, hearing aids and dentures if the team allows them
- Keep a written list of the patient's medicines and old illnesses
- Choose one family member to take calls from the doctors
- Eat, drink and rest yourself between visits
- Write your questions down so you remember them at the update
Commonly believed
What do families believe about the ICU that is not true?
"Every alarm means something bad is happening."
Most alarms are for small things: a sticker has come loose, the person moved, or a drip is nearly finished. The nurses know which sounds matter and respond to those at once.
"She cannot hear us, so there is no point talking."
People who are sleepy or sedated often hear more than they can show. A familiar voice saying their name, the day and where they are can be calming. Keep it gentle and simple.
"If we are not at the door all day, he will be neglected."
ICU patients are watched constantly, with a nurse close by. Relatives crowding the entrance can slow staff down. Leave a phone number and take turns to rest.
"The confusion means the anaesthetic damaged his brain."
Confusion after major surgery is common, especially in older people, and it usually clears. Tell the team how he normally is at home, because that helps them judge the change.
Questions we are asked
Common questions from families about the ICU
Can I touch or hold my father's hand in the ICU?
Usually yes, after cleaning your hands. Holding a hand or stroking an arm is comforting. Avoid the areas where drips, lines and wires go in, and ask the nurse first if you are unsure. If he is very unwell or in isolation, the nurse will guide you.
Why won't they let children visit?
Many ICUs do not allow young children, both to protect patients from infections children often carry and because the sight can frighten them. Some units make exceptions. Ask the ICU desk. A short video call or a drawing taped near the bed can help in the meantime.
Who should we ask for updates, the surgeon or the ICU doctor?
Both are involved. The ICU doctor can best explain breathing, blood pressure and the machines. The surgeon can best explain the operation, the wound and the cancer. Ask at the update which doctor is leading on what, and keep one family member as the main contact.
Can we bring food from home?
Not without asking. Many patients in the ICU are not yet allowed to eat, or can only have certain fluids after surgery on the gut. Food is also not usually allowed inside the unit. When eating is permitted, the team will tell you what is safe to bring.
Why does she seem worse at night?
Confusion often gets worse in the evening and at night, when it is harder to tell day from night in a bright unit and sleep keeps being broken. Familiar voices during the day, spectacles and hearing aids, and a clock nearby can help. Tell the nurse what she is like normally.
We live far from Hyderabad. Do we need to stay nearby?
It helps to have one family member reachable and able to come in quickly, especially in the first days, because consent forms or decisions may be needed. Others can return home. Ask the hospital about nearby places relatives commonly stay, and make sure the unit has a working phone number.
Is it all right to cry in front of him?
It is natural, and nobody will judge you. If you need to, step outside for a few minutes and come back. Calm, short visits usually help the patient more than long anxious ones. Many units can put you in touch with a counsellor if the strain is heavy.
What should I do if something at the bedside worries me?
Tell the bedside nurse straight away, even if you are not sure it matters. You know your family member best, and you may notice a change before a monitor does. Do not adjust any equipment yourself. Ask the nurse to explain what they have checked.
Meet the Specialists
17+ senior cancer specialists. One panel for your case.
Trained at AIIMS, Tata Memorial, and leading international centres. Combined 150+ years of experience. Every complex case is reviewed by 3+ of them — together.
Medical Oncologist
Dr. C. Raghavendra Reddy
MBBS(Gold Medal), DNB(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Gold Medal)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Bharati Devi Gorantla
MBBS, MD(General Medicine), DM(Medical Oncology)(Adyar,Chennai), ECMO, MRCP SCE(UK)
Medical Oncologist
Dr. Owais Mohammed
MBBS, MD (General Medicine), DrNB (Medical Oncology), ECMO, MRCP SCE (Medical Oncology) (UK)
Medical Oncologist
Medical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Muralidhar Muddusetty
MBBS (AIIMS), MS (Surgery) (AIIMS), DNB (Surgical Oncology), MRCS (Edinburgh)
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vinay Mamidala
MBBS, MS(General Surgery), M.Ch(Surgical Oncology), FMAS, FARIS(Ongoing)
Surgical Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Hematologist
Surgical Oncologist
Dr. Vajja Sandeep Kumar
MBBS, MS (General Surgery), DrNB (Surgical Oncology), FALS Oncology
Surgical Oncologist
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Sources
- NHS — Intensive care
- Macmillan Cancer Support — Surgery
- Cancer Research UK — Surgery for cancer
This page is general information, not a prescription. Do not change or stop any treatment based on what you read here. If anything is worrying you, contact your own treating team — or call our helpline and we will help you reach the right specialist.
Keep reading
Related pages
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