Abstract
Post-ICU clinics have been advocated to reduce long-term physical and psychological impairments among ICU survivors. A format for optimal structure, timing, and care content has not yet been established. We developed and implemented two post-ICU clinics in different hospital settings and evaluated the feasibility. In this prospective cohort study ICU-survivors of a university hospital (AMC) and a general hospital (TG), who were mechanically ventilated ≥ 2 days and discharged to their homes, were invited to the post-ICU clinic one month after hospital discharge (AMC) or three months after ICU discharge (TG). Feasibility was evaluated as 1) the number of eligible ICU-survivors and the proportion that attended; 2) the prevalence of ICU-related abnormalities, that required referral for further treatment; and 3) patient satisfaction. Forty-five of 629 AMC-patients and 70 of 142 TG-patients were eligible for the post-ICU clinic. Of these, 49% and 67% respectively, visited the outpatient clinic (P=0.026). The majority of all screened patients had functional restrictions, and 68% required referral for further diagnosis and treatment. Patient satisfaction was high. This study provides valuable information to support the implementation of post-ICU clinics. The use of validated screening instruments facilitates the identification of patients with need for further treatment. Early in-hospital screening and recruiting patients at highest risk for adverse outcome could be a more targeted approach to achieve greater benefit
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 865-875 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Minerva Anestesiologica |
Volume | 81 |
Issue number | 8 |
Publication status | Published - Aug 2015 |
Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Cohort Studies
- Critical Care
- Feasibility Studies
- Female
- Hospital Units
- Humans
- Intensive Care Units
- Journal Article
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Observational Study
- Outpatient Clinics, Hospital
- Prospective Studies
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Respiration, Artificial