Oxygen-Saturation Targets and Cognitive and Functional Outcomes in Mechanically Ventilated Adults.

Rationale: Among mechanically ventilated critically ill adults, the PILOT (Pragmatic Investigation of Optimal Oxygen Targets) trial demonstrated no difference in ventilator-free days among lower, intermediate, and higher oxygen-saturation targets. The effects on long-term cognition and related outcomes are unknown.Objectives: To compare the effects of lower (90% [range, 88-92%]), intermediate (94% [range, 92-96%]), and higher (98% [range, 96-100%]) oxygen-saturation targets on long-term outcomes.Methods: Twelve months after enrollment in the PILOT trial, blinded neuropsychological raters conducted assessments of cognition, disability, employment status, and quality of life. The primary outcome was global cognition as measured using the Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment. In a subset of patients, an expanded neuropsychological battery measured executive function, attention, immediate and delayed memory, verbal fluency, and abstraction.Measurements and Main Results: A total of 501 patients completed follow-up, including 142 in the lower, 186 in the intermediate, and 173 in the higher oxygen target groups. Median (interquartile range) peripheral oxygen saturation values in the lower, intermediate, and higher target groups were 94% (91-96%), 95% (93-97%), and 97% (95-99%), respectively. Telephone Montreal Cognitive Assessment score did not differ between lower and intermediate (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.36 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.92-2.00]), intermediate and higher (adjusted OR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.62-1.29]), or higher and lower (adjusted OR, 1.22 [95% CI, 0.83-1.79]) target groups. There was also no difference in individual cognitive domains, disability, employment, or quality of life.Conclusions: Among mechanically ventilated critically ill adults who completed follow-up at 12 months, oxygen-saturation targets were not associated with cognition or related outcomes.

Improving management of ARDS: uniting acute management and long-term recovery.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is an important global health issue with high in-hospital mortality. Importantly, the impact of ARDS extends beyond the acute phase, with increased mortality and disability for months to years after hospitalization. These findings underscore the importance of extended follow-up to assess and address the Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), characterized by persistent impairments in physical, cognitive, and/or mental health status that impair quality of life over the long-term. Persistent muscle weakness is a common physical problem for ARDS survivors, affecting mobility and activities of daily living. Critical illness and related interventions, including prolonged bed rest and overuse of sedatives and neuromuscular blocking agents during mechanical ventilation, are important risk factors for ICU-acquired weakness. Deep sedation also increases the risk of delirium in the ICU, and long-term cognitive impairment. Corticosteroids also may be used during management of ARDS, particularly in the setting of COVID-19. Corticosteroids can be associated with myopathy and muscle weakness, as well as prolonged delirium that increases the risk of long-term cognitive impairment. The optimal duration and dosage of corticosteroids remain uncertain, and there's limited long-term data on their effects on muscle weakness and cognition in ARDS survivors. In addition to physical and cognitive issues, mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, are common in ARDS survivors. Strategies to address these complications emphasize the need for consistent implementation of the evidence-based ABCDEF bundle, which includes daily management of analgesia in concert with early cessation of sedatives, avoidance of benzodiazepines, daily delirium monitoring and management, early mobilization, and incorporation of family at the bedside. In conclusion, ARDS is a complex global health challenge with consequences extending beyond the acute phase. Understanding the links between critical care management and long-term consequences is vital for developing effective therapeutic strategies and improving the quality of life for ARDS survivors.

Exploring the effectiveness of eHealth interventions in treating Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) outcomes: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: It remains unclear how to optimise critical care rehabilitation to reduce the constellation of long-term physical, psychological and cognitive impairments known as Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). Possible reasons for poor recovery include access to care and delayed treatment. eHealth could potentially aid in increasing access and providing consistent care remotely. Our review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of eHealth interventions on PICS outcomes. METHODS: Studies reporting eHealth interventions targeting Post Intensive Care Syndrome outcomes, published in Medline, CINAHL, PsycINFO, Embase, and Scopus from 30th January 2010 to 12th February 2024, were included in the review. Study eligibility was assessed by two reviewers with any disagreements discussed between them or resolved by a third reviewer. Study quality and risk of bias were assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Further to the identification of effective strategies, our review also aimed to clarify the timeline of recovery considered and the outcomes or domains targeted by the interventions. RESULTS: Thirteen studies were included in our review. Study duration, eHealth intervention delivery format, and outcome measures varied considerably. No studies reported a theory of behavioural change and only one study was co-produced with patients or carers. Most studies were conducted in the early post-discharge phase (i.e., < 3 months) and had feasibility as a primary outcome. The cognitive domain was the least targeted and no intervention targeted all three domains. Interventions targeting the psychological domain suggest generally positive effects. However, results were underpowered and preliminary. Though all studies were concluded to be feasible, most studies did not assess acceptability. In studies that did assess acceptability, the main facilitators of acceptability were usability and perceived usefulness, and the main barrier was sensitivity to mental health and cognitive issues. CONCLUSION: Our systematic review highlighted the promising contributions of eHealth with preliminary support for the feasibility of interventions in the early stages of post-critical care rehabilitation. Future research should focus on demonstrating effectiveness, acceptability, the cognitive domain, and multi-component interventions.

How are Long-Covid, Post-Sepsis-Syndrome and Post-Intensive-Care-Syndrome related? A conceptional approach based on the current research literature.

Long-Covid (LC), Post-Sepsis-Syndrome (PSS) and Post-Intensive-Care-Syndrome (PICS) show remarkable overlaps in their clinical presentation. Nevertheless, it is unclear if they are distinct syndromes, which may co-occur in the same patient, or if they are three different labels to describe similar symptoms, assigned on the basis on patient history and professional perspective of the treating physician. Therefore, we reviewed the current literature on the relation between LC, PSS and PICS. To date, the three syndromes cannot reliably be distinguished due similarities in clinical presentation as they share the cognitive, psychological and physical impairments with only different probabilities of occurrence and a heterogeneity in individual expression. The diagnosis is furthermore hindered by a lack of specific diagnostic tools. It can be concluded that survivors after COVID-19 sepsis likely have more frequent and more severe consequences than patients with milder COVID-19 courses, and that are some COVID-19-specific sequelae, e.g. an increased risk for venous thromboembolism in the 30 days after the acute disease, which occur less often after sepsis of other causes. Patients may profit from leveraging synergies from PICS, PSS and LC treatment as well as from experiences gained from infection-associated chronic conditions in general. Disentangling molecular pathomechanisms may enable future targeted therapies that go beyond symptomatic treatment.

Risk factors, biomarkers, and mechanisms for persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS): a systematic review and meta-analysis.

INTRODUCTION: Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS) has been proposed as an endotype of chronic critical illness (CCI). The aim of this systematic review is to synthesise the available evidence of risk factors, biomarkers, and biological mechanisms underlying PICS. METHODS: MEDLINE, CENTRAL, and EMBASE were searched on June 2, 2023. Our population of interest was adult intensive care unit survivors. The exposure group was patients with PICS and the comparator group was patients with no PICS, CCI, or rapid recovery. Mean differences were pooled for each biomarker using a random effects DerSimonian-Laird method. Risk of bias assessment was done using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. RESULTS: Six papers were included. Five were single-centre retrospective cohort studies, and one was a prospective cohort study, with sample sizes ranging from 22 to 391 patients. Two studies showed an increased incidence of PICS with age, and two studies showed an association between PICS and Charlson Comorbidity Index scores. PICS was associated with requiring mechanical ventilation in four studies. Meta-analysis showed a 34.4 mg L-1 higher C-reactive protein (95% confidence interval [CI] 12.7-56.2 mg L-1; P<0.01), a 4.4 g L-1 lower albumin (95% CI 0.5-8.3 g L-1; P<0.01), and a 0.36×109 L-1 lower lymphocyte count (95% CI 0.25-0.47×109 L-1; P=0.01) in the PICS compared with the non-PICS group. There are a large variety of other potential biomarkers but limited validation studies. The overall quality of evidence is limited, and these results should be interpreted accordingly. CONCLUSIONS: While older patients and those with co-morbidities could be at greater risk for PICS, acquired risk factors, such as injury severity, are potentially more predictive of PICS than intrinsic patient characteristics. There are many potential biomarkers for PICS, but limited validation studies have been conducted. Persistent myeloid-derived suppressor cell expansion, the continual release of danger-associated molecular patterns and pathogen-associated molecular patterns propagating inflammation, and bioenergetic failure are all mechanisms underlying PICS that could offer potential for novel biomarkers and therapeutic interventions. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO; CRD42023427749).

Charting the course for improved outcomes in chronic critical illness: therapeutic strategies for persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS).

Enhanced critical care delivery has led to improved survival rates in critically ill patients, yet sepsis remains a leading cause of multiorgan failure with variable recovery outcomes. Chronic critical illness, characterised by prolonged ICU stays and persistent end-organ dysfunction, presents a significant challenge in patient management, often requiring multifaceted interventions. Recent research, highlighted in a comprehensive review in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, focuses on addressing the pathophysiological drivers of chronic critical illness, such as persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism, through targeted therapeutic strategies including immunomodulation, muscle wasting prevention, nutritional support, and microbiome modulation. Although promising avenues exist, challenges remain in patient heterogeneity, treatment timing, and the need for multimodal approaches.

Persistent inflammation, immunosuppression, and catabolism syndrome (PICS): a review of definitions, potential therapies, and research priorities.

Persistent Inflammation, Immunosuppression, and Catabolism Syndrome (PICS) is a clinical endotype of chronic critical illness. PICS consists of a self-perpetuating cycle of ongoing organ dysfunction, inflammation, and catabolism resulting in sarcopenia, immunosuppression leading to recurrent infections, metabolic derangements, and changes in bone marrow function. There is heterogeneity regarding the definition of PICS. Currently, there are no licensed treatments specifically for PICS. However, findings can be extrapolated from studies in other conditions with similar features to repurpose drugs, and in animal models. Drugs that can restore immune homeostasis by stimulating lymphocyte production could have potential efficacy. Another treatment could be modifying myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) activation after day 14 when they are immunosuppressive. Drugs such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6 receptor antagonists might reduce persistent inflammation, although they need to be given at specific time points to avoid adverse effects. Antioxidants could treat the oxidative stress caused by mitochondrial dysfunction in PICS. Possible anti-catabolic agents include testosterone, oxandrolone, IGF-1 (insulin-like growth factor-1), bortezomib, and MURF1 (muscle RING-finger protein-1) inhibitors. Nutritional support strategies that could slow PICS progression include ketogenic feeding and probiotics. The field would benefit from a consensus definition of PICS using biologically based cut-off values. Future research should focus on expanding knowledge on underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of PICS to identify and validate other potential endotypes of chronic critical illness and subsequent treatable traits. There is unlikely to be a universal treatment for PICS, and a multimodal, timely, and personalised therapeutic strategy will be needed to improve outcomes for this growing cohort of patients.

"The Psychiatric Domain of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: A Review for the Intensivist".

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is a clinical syndrome characterized by new or worsening changes in mental health, cognition, or physical function that persist following critical illness. The psychiatric domain of PICS encompasses new or worsened psychiatric burdens following critical illness, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety. Many of the established predisposing and precipitating factors for the psychiatric domain of PICS are commonly found in the setting of critical illness, including mechanical ventilation (MV), exposure to sedating medications, and physical restraint. Importantly, previous psychiatric history is a strong risk factor for the development of the psychiatric domain of PICS and should be considered when screening patients to diagnose psychiatric impairment and interventions. Delirium has been associated with psychiatric symptoms following ICU admission, therefore prevention warrants careful consideration. Dexmedetomidine has been shown to have the lowest risk for development of delirium when compared to other sedatives and has been the only sedative studied in relation to the psychiatric domain of PICS. Nocturnal dexmedetomidine and intensive care unit (ICU) diaries have been associated with decreased psychiatric burden after ICU discharge. Studies evaluating the impact of other intra-ICU practices on the development of the psychiatric domain of PICS, including the ABCDEF bundle, depth of sedation, and daily spontaneous awakening trials, have been limited and inconclusive. The psychiatric domain of PICS is difficult to treat and may be less responsive to multidisciplinary post-discharge programs and targeted interventions than the cognitive and physical domains of PICS. Given the high morbidity associated with the psychiatric domain of PICS, intensivists should familiarize themselves with the risk factors and intra-ICU interventions that can mitigate this important and under-recognized condition.

Predicting Parental Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms Following their Child's Stay in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Prior to Discharge.

Objective: Develop an inpatient predictive model of parental post-traumatic stress (PTS) following their child's care in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). Design: Prospective observational cohort. Setting: Two tertiary care children's hospitals with mixed medical/surgical/cardiac PICUs. Subjects: Parents of patients admitted to the PICU. Interventions: None. Measurements and Main Results: Preadmission and admission data from 169 parents of 129 children who completed follow up screening for parental post-traumatic stress symptoms at 3-9 months post PICU discharge were utilized to develop a predictive model estimating the risk of parental PTS 3-9 months after hospital discharge. The parent cohort was predominantly female (63%), partnered (75%), and working (70%). Child median age was 3 years (IQR 0.36-9.04), and more than half had chronic illnesses (56%) or previous ICU admissions (64%). Thirty-five percent (60/169) of parents met criteria for PTS (>9 on the Post-traumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Scale-Interview). The machine learning model (XGBoost) predicted subjects with parental PTS with 76.7% accuracy, had a sensitivity of 0.83 (95% CI 0.586, 0.964), a specificity of 0.72 (95% CI 0.506, 0.879), a precision of 0.682 (95% CI 0.451, 0.861) and number needed to evaluate of 1.47 (95% CI 1.16, 1.98). The area under the receiver operating curve was 0.78 (95% CI 0.64, 0.92). The most important predictive pre-admission and admission variables were determined using the Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanation, which identified seven variables used 100% of the time. Composite variables of parental history of mental illness and traumatic experiences were most important. Conclusion: A machine learning model using parent risk factors predicted subsequent PTS at 3-9 months following their child's PICU discharge with an accuracy of 76.7% and number needed to evaluate of 1.47. This performance is sufficient to identify parents who are at risk during hospitalization, making inpatient and acute post admission mitigation initiatives possible.

Changes in Restricting Symptoms after Critical Illness among Community-Living Older Adults.

Rationale: Survivors of critical illness have multiple symptoms, but how restricting symptoms change after critical illness and whether these changes differ among vulnerable subgroups is unknown. Objectives: To evaluate changes in restricting symptoms over the six months after critical illness among older adults and to determine whether these changes differ by sex, multimorbidity, and individual- and neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage. Methods: From a prospective longitudinal study of 754 community-living adults ⩾70 years old interviewed monthly (1998-2018), we identified 233 admissions from 193 participants to the ICU. The occurrence of 15 restricting symptoms, defined as those leading to restricted activity, were ascertained during interviews in the month before ICU admission (baseline) and each of the six months after hospital discharge. Measurements and Main Results: The occurrence and number of restricting symptoms increased more than threefold in the six months after a critical illness hospitalization (adjusted rate ratio [95% confidence interval], 3.1 [2.1-4.6] and 3.3 [2.1-5.3], respectively), relative to baseline. These increases were largest in the first month after hospitalization (adjusted rate ratio [95% confidence interval], 5.3 [3.8-7.3] and 5.4 [3.9-7.5], respectively] before declining and becoming nonsignificant in the third month. Increases in restricting symptoms did not differ significantly by sex, multimorbidity, or individual- or neighborhood-level socioeconomic disadvantage. Conclusions: Restricting symptoms increase substantially after a critical illness before returning to baseline three months after hospital discharge. Our findings highlight the need to incorporate symptom management into post-ICU care and for further investigation into whether addressing restricting symptoms can improve quality of life and functional recovery among older ICU survivors.

Association between inflammation and post-intensive care syndrome: a systematic review.

Post-intensive care syndrome describes the physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms which persist following critical illness. At present there is limited understanding of the pathological mechanisms contributing to the development of post-intensive care syndrome. The aim of this systematic review was to synthesise current evidence exploring the association between inflammation and features of post-intensive care syndrome in survivors of critical illness. Relevant databases were systematically searched for studies of human participants exposed to critical illness. We sought studies that reported results for biomarkers with an identified role in the pathophysiology of inflammation obtained at any time-point in the patient journey and an outcome measure of any feature of post-intensive care syndrome at any point following hospital discharge. We included 32 studies, with 23 in the primary analysis and nine in a brain injury subgroup analysis. In the primary analysis, 47 different biomarkers were sampled and 44 different outcome measures were employed. Of the biomarkers which were sampled in five or more studies, interleukin-8, C-reactive protein and interleukin-10 most frequently showed associations with post-intensive care syndrome outcomes in 71%, 62% and 60% of studies, respectively. There was variability in terms of which biomarkers were sampled, time-points of sampling and outcome measures reported. Overall, there was mixed evidence of a potential association between an inflammatory process and long-term patient outcomes following critical illness. Further high-quality research is required to develop a longitudinal inflammatory profile of survivors of critical illness over the recovery period and evaluate the association with outcomes.

Survivorship After Neurocritical Care: A Scoping Review of Outcomes Beyond Physical Status.

Following intensive care unit hospitalization, survivors of acute neurological injury often experience debilitating short-term and long-term impairments. Although the physical/motor impairments experienced by survivors of acute neurological injury have been described extensively, fewer studies have examined cognitive, mental health, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and employment outcomes. This scoping review describes the publication landscape beyond physical and/or motor sequelae in neurocritical care survivors. Databases were searched for terms related to critical illness, intensive care, and outcomes from January 1970 to March 2022. English-language studies of critically ill adults with a primary neurological diagnosis were included if they reported on at least one outcome of interest: cognition, mental health, HRQoL or employment. Data extraction was performed in duplicate for prespecified variables related to study outcomes. Of 16,036 abstracts screened, 74 citations were identified for inclusion. The studies encompassed seven worldwide regions and eight neurocritical diagnosis categories. Publications reporting outcomes of interest increased from 3 before the year 2000 to 71 after. Follow-up time points included ≤ 1 (n = 15 [20%] citations), 3 (n = 28 [38%]), 6 (n = 28 [38%]), and 12 (n = 21 [28%]) months and 1 to 5 (n = 19 [26%]) and > 5 years (n = 8 [11%]), with 28 (38%) citations evaluating outcomes at multiple time points. Sixty-six assessment tools were used to evaluate the four outcomes of interest: 22 evaluating HRQoL (56 [76%] citations), 21 evaluating cognition (20 [27%] citations), 21 evaluating mental health (18 [24%] citations), and 2 evaluating employment (9 [12%] citations). This scoping review aimed to better understand the literature landscape regarding nonphysical outcomes in survivors of neurocritical care. Although a rising number of publications highlight growing awareness, future efforts are needed to improve study consistency and comparability and characterize outcomes in a disease-specific manner, including outlining of a minimum core outcomes set and associated assessment tools.

Parental emotional, social and transitional health in the first 6 months after childhood critical illness: A longitudinal qualitative study.

AIM: To explore the experiences and support needs of parents in the first 6 months after paediatric critical care. DESIGN: Longitudinal qualitative design. METHODS: Sequential semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with a sample of 28 parents in succession at 1 month and at 6 months (n = 22) after their child's discharge from paediatric critical care using purposive sampling. Data were analysed using the adapted five-stage framework analysis. RESULTS: Data were developed into eight synthesized themes, three domains and an overarching theme: Regaining Normalcy. Families of children requiring medical treatment at 6 months showed signs of adaption to daily care routines. The two domains were Parental Emotional Health and Parental Social Health. Parental Transitional Health, a third domain, was added to the Post Intensive Care Syndrome-paediatric framework. Parents were forward-looking and discussed emotional health, relating to current caregiving issues. Emotional attention was related to present challenges and concerns about current health and possible readmission to the hospital. In terms of Parental Social Health, families isolated themselves for infection control while remaining connected with families using chat applications. Parents were selective to whom they allowed access to their lives. The impact of parental transitional health was evident and emphasized the daily challenges associated with integration back to home life. Flexible work arrangements allowed working parents to support caregiving needs in the first 6 months after discharge. CONCLUSION: In the first 6 months after paediatric critical illness, most families reported having moved past the experiences while having provoking memories of the admission period. Parents viewed the point of normalcy as child returned to school or when all medications were discontinued. Extension of transitional support can facilitate discharge experiences between paediatric critical care and normalcy. The findings highlight the importance of understanding the medium- and longer-term impact of paediatric critical care. IMPACT: What problem did the study address? ○ Limited understanding of long-term parental experiences and support needs after PICU discharge. What were the main findings? ○ Most families regained normalcy when child returns to school or when medications were discontinued. Some families continued to show signs of adaptations at 6 months after PICU discharge. Where and on whom did the research have an impact? ○ The research has an impact on improving the understanding of long-term parental experiences and support needs after PICU discharge, informing clinical practice, guiding policy development and shaping parental support programs. REPORTING METHOD: We reported this study using the COREQ guidelines. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: Prior to confirming the interview guide, three parents of critically ill children actively participated by reviewing and providing feedback on its content. They provided suggestions to refine the wording and ensure clarity to enhance the participants' understanding. By including the perspectives of these parents, we aimed to improve the overall quality and relevance of the interview guide.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms six months after ICU admission with COVID-19: Prospective observational study.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of post-traumatic stress symptoms, and to identify possible predictive factors in Norwegian intensive care unit survivors, 6 months after admission to the intensive care unit with COVID-19. BACKGROUND: The SARS CoV-2 virus causing COVID-19 has spread worldwide since it was declared a pandemic in March 2020. The most severely ill patients have been treated in the intensive care due to acute respiratory failure and also acute respiratory distress syndrome. It is well documented that these severe conditions can lead to complex and long-lasting symptoms, such as psychological distress, and was, therefore, investigated for the specific COVID-19 population. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. METHODS: Clinical data and patient reported outcome measures were collected by the Norwegian Intensive Care and Pandemic Registry and by the study group 6 months after admission to an intensive care unit. RESULTS: Among 222 COVID-19 patients admitted to Norwegian intensive care units between 10 March and 6 July 2020, 175 survived. The study sample consisted of 131 patients who responded to at least one patient reported outcome measure at 6 months following admission. The primary outcome was self-reported post-traumatic stress symptoms, using the Impact of Event Scale-6 (n = 89). Of those, 22.5% reported post-traumatic stress symptoms 6 months after admission. Female gender, younger age and having a high respiratory rate at admission were statistically significant predictive factors for reporting post-traumatic stress symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: The result is in accordance with previously published research with comparable populations, suggesting that for many COVID-19 survivors psychological distress is a part of the post-acute sequelae. Results from the present study should be replicated in larger datasets. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This project provides important insight to post-acute sequelae after COVID-19 that patients may experience after critical illness.

Intensive care unit follow-up clinic activities: a scoping review.

The importance of ongoing post-discharge follow-up to prevent functional impairment in patients discharged from intensive care units (ICUs) is being increasingly recognized. Therefore, we conducted a scoping review, which included existing ICU follow-up clinic methodologies using the CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and CINAHL databases from their inception to December 2022. Data were examined for country or region, outpatient name, location, opening days, lead profession, eligible patients, timing of the follow-up, and assessment tools. Twelve studies were included in our review. The results obtained revealed that the methods employed by ICU follow-up clinics varied among countries and regions. The names of outpatient follow-up clinics also varied; however, all were located within the facility. These clinics were mainly physician or nurse led; however, pharmacists, physical therapists, neuropsychologists, and social workers were also involved. Some clinics were limited to critically ill patients with sepsis or those requiring ventilation. Ten studies reported the first outpatient visit 1-3 months after discharge. All studies assessed physical function, cognitive function, mental health, and the health-related quality of life. This scoping review revealed that an optimal operating format for ICU follow-up clinics needs to be established according to the categories of critically ill patients.

Quality of life in ICU survivors and their relatives with post-intensive care syndrome: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) is characterized by all three adverse survivorship dimensions: physical function, cognitive function and mental health status. AIM: This review aimed to describe the quality of life (QoL) of Intensive Care Unit (ICU) survivors with PICS after discharge and of their relatives with Family Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS-F) and to report anxiety, depression and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) in studies investigating PICS. STUDY DESIGN: A systematic review was carried out. We searched PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature. This review was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022382123). RESULTS: We included 19 studies of PICS and PICS-F in this systematic review. Fourteen observational studies report the effects of PICS on depression, 12 studies on anxiety and nine on post-traumatic stress disorder and 10 on QoL. Mobility, personal care, usual activities and pain/discomfort in QoL were the domains most affected by PICS. A significant association was demonstrated between a high level of ICU survivors' anxiety and high levels of ICU relatives' burden. Strain-related symptoms and sleep disorders were problems encountered by ICU relatives with PICS-F. CONCLUSION: PICS and PICS-F were widespread experiences among ICU survivors and their ICU relatives, respectively. The results of this review showed the adverse effects of PICS and PICS-F on QoL. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: PICS and PICS-F strongly impact the rehabilitation process and are measured in terms of health costs, financial stress and potentially preventable readmission.

Barriers and facilitators to offering post-intensive care follow-up services from the perspective of critical care professionals: A qualitative study.

BACKGROUND: Various programmes and models for post-intensive care unit (ICU) follow-up services have been developed worldwide. In China, post-ICU follow-up remains in the exploratory stage and little is known regarding the appropriate form and challenges of implementation, which need to be further explored. AIM: This study aimed to explore and describe the barriers to and facilitators of post-ICU follow-up services from the perspective of critical care professionals. DESIGN: This was a descriptive qualitative study. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 21 health care workers whose units had offered ICU survivors different forms of follow-up services; the data were analysed by qualitative content analysis during August 2022 and December 2022. SETTING: The study was conducted at 14 ICUs in 11 tertiary hospitals in Shanghai, China. FINDINGS: Seventeen subthemes were extracted as barriers and facilitators in the follow-up of ICU survivors. In the initiating process, the barriers included the restriction of decision-making rights and scope of practice, indifferent attitude towards survivors and repeated work. The facilitators included admitted significance, the needs of ICU survivors, the conscientiousness of professionals and the pioneers and leadership support. In the implementation process, lack of confidence, lack of cooperation in medical consortium, distrusted relationships, restrictions of medical insurance, ageing problems and insufficient human resources acted as barriers, whereas lessons learned, positive feedback and digital support served as facilitators. Furthermore, recommendations and tips were identified for offering follow-up services. CONCLUSION: Medical personnel can better utilize available resources and develop strategies to overcome constraints by gaining insights into the abovementioned barriers and facilitators. The findings of this study can provide a useful reference for structured and systematic follow-ups to ameliorate post-intensive care syndrome in low- and middle-income countries. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Publicity and educational measures play a crucial role in enhancing the awareness of survivors and the consensus of health care professionals from medical consortium regarding impairments after critical care. Leadership and policy support can address numerous obstacles to guiding follow-up services.

Post-ICU psychology support during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: Critical illness survival rates have improved, but patients frequently face prolonged new or worsened physical, cognitive and psychosocial impairments. These difficulties associated with critical care admission are known as post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). AIMS: The multidisciplinary Intensive care Syndrome: Promoting Independence and Return to Employment (InS:PIRE) programme was developed to support patients in the recovery period from critical illness. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the psychology support offered by this service was adapted from an in-person group to individual remote review. This audit evaluated both the extent to which this input aligned with the recommended guidelines and the acceptability of this adapted delivery to this patient group, which could help guide post-pandemic psychology input to the service. STUDY DESIGN: The records of 207 patients were analysed retrospectively. The nature of support offered to a sub-sample of 50 patients detailed in clinical summary letters was compared with the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (2019) guidelines. Telephone calls were made to gather feedback on the virtual psychology support from 10 patients. RESULTS: Psychological difficulties were identified by 111 of the 207 patients who attended the virtual clinic. A total of 88 of these patients accepted referral for virtual psychology support and 67 (76%) of those patients attended. The virtual psychology support offered was found to be largely in accordance with ICU aftercare guidance and acceptable to patients. Patients found the summary letters of consultations accurate and helpful. Most patients expressed a preference for in-person support and the opportunity to meet other patients. CONCLUSIONS: The adaptations to the psychology support offered by InS:PIRE during the COVID-19 pandemic were found to be largely in line with ICU aftercare psychology guidelines and were acceptable to patients. Further research is needed on future methods of delivering psychology support for this patient group. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: This audit highlights issues important to patients in the post-ICU period based on individual consultations not previously possible. Patient opinion was sought on the impact of changing the delivery of post-ICU psychological support, which will help guide future improvements in the service.

Patient follow-up after discharge from the paediatric intensive care unit: A scoping review.

BACKGROUND: Most children admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) now survive because of improvements in care. Many studies have identified the psychological, functional, cognitive and social impact of PICU admission on a child and their family. However, expert recommendations on follow-up are lacking. AIM: To identify the strategies of clinical follow-up after PICU discharge performed from 2001 to 2021. STUDY DESIGN: This scoping review was undertaken between January and April 2021 using three databases: PubMed, EMBASE and CINAHL. The search strategy consisted of a combination of keywords, including PICU, post-PICU discharge and follow-up in articles published between 2001 and 2021. The results are reported according to PRISMA-ScR guidelines. RESULTS: Six-hundred and fifty-two articles were identified and 68 were analysed. Median age was 4.5 years and the two main reasons for PICU admission were cardiorespiratory failure and sepsis. Median length of PICU stay was 8 days. Most follow-up was carried out by research units (88%), while 6% of studies reported follow-up by a multidisciplinary PICU team. The most common follow-up schedule included an assessment at PICU discharge, and then at 3, 6 and 12 months. Follow-up for >1 year was reported in 20% of studies. One third of studies focused on follow-up quality of life and neurological outcomes. Parental emotional impact was assessed in 7% of studies. CONCLUSION: Follow-up after PICU discharge was highly heterogeneous regarding timing, health care professionals involved and assessment methods. There is an urgent need for standardization and coordination of PICU follow-up because of the increasing number of patients impacted by a PICU stay. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Although most patients admitted to a paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) now survive; they may develop paediatric post-intensive care syndrome (PICS-P). To our knowledge, there are currently no clinical guidelines regarding follow-up after PICU discharge. This review summarizes current approaches to follow-up after PICU discharge, including how it is carried out, who is involved and what the main aims of assessment are.

Survivorship outcomes for critically ill patients in Australia and New Zealand: A scoping review.

INTRODUCTION: Impairments after critical illness, termed the post-intensive care syndrome, are an increasing focus of research in Australasia. However, this research is yet to be cohesively synthesised and/or summarised. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this scoping review was to explore patient outcomes of survivorship research, identify measures, methodologies, and designs, and explore the reported findings in Australasia. INCLUSION CRITERIA: Studies reporting outcomes for adult survivors of critical illness from Australia and New Zealand in the following domains: physical, functional, psychosocial, cognitive, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), discharge destination, health care use, return to work, and ongoing symptoms/complications of critical illness. METHODS: The Joanna Briggs Institute scoping review methodology framework was used. A protocol was published on the open science framework, and the search used Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, ProQuest, and Google databases. Eligible studies were based on reports from Australia and New Zealand published in English between January 2000 and March 2022. RESULTS: There were 68 studies identified with a wide array of study aims, methodology, and designs. The most common study type was nonexperimental cohort studies (n = 17), followed by studies using secondary analyses of other study types (n = 13). HRQoL was the most common domain of recovery reported. Overall, the identified studies reported that impairments and activity restrictions were associated with reduced HRQoL and reduced functional status was prevalent in survivors of critical illness. About 25% of 6-month survivors reported some form of disability. Usually, by 6 to12 months after critical illness, impairments had improved. CONCLUSIONS: Reports of long-term outcomes for survivors of critical illness in Australia highlight that impairments and activity limitations are common and are associated with poor HRQoL. There was little New Zealand-specific research related to prevalence, impact, unmet needs, ongoing symptoms, complications from critical illness, and barriers to recovery.