Why does my loved on look that way?

If the patient has a tube inserted in the mouth, he or she may have his or her hands tied down. Although all attempts are made to avoid this restraint, it sometimes is vital to ensure that the tube is not pulled out.

At times there appears to be a lot of mucus and even blood around the tubes. The nurse will gently clean around these areas, but sometimes some blood will remain. The face may be very swollen. This is not uncommon in the ICU, and should resolve as the patient recovers.

Sometimes, small pockets are made under the skin to hold internal monitors like permanent pacemakers, automatic defibrillators, or other devices.

Occasionally, an opening is made in the wall of the stomach to allow evacuation of urine or bowel movement. This is referred to as the ileostomy or colostomy. These openings may be temporary or permanent, depending on the reason for the opening.

If the patient has a broken leg or hip, weights may be applied to keep the bones straight. This traction will prevent moving without assistance.