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Description
Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) is a collection of symptoms that more than half of patients who survive a critical illness experience after discharge.Those symptoms include weakness, fatigue, sleep disturbances, cognitive dysfunction, post-traumatic stress disorder, mental health conditions, and a lack of effective coping strategies. PICS can significantly impact an individual's quality of life, complicating the recovery process and posing challenges for reintegration into daily activities and societal roles. The etiology of PICS is multifactorial, with the severity and duration of the illness, the nature of medical interventions in the ICU, and the pre-existing health condition of the patient all contributing to its development. The stress of an ICU stay, characterized by invasive treatments, sedation, and the disruption of normal sleep patterns, can also exacerbate or trigger symptoms. Early identification of at-risk individuals and targeted interventions are crucial steps in mitigating the impact of PICS and facilitating a smoother transition to normal life following critical illness.
Department
Nursing
Publication Date
Spring 2024
Sponsorship/Conference/Institution
Scholar & Creative Works Conference, Dominican University of California
City
San Rafael, CA
Keywords
Intensive Care, After Discharge
Disciplines
Critical Care | Critical Care Nursing | Interprofessional Education | Nursing
Included in
Critical Care Commons, Critical Care Nursing Commons, Interprofessional Education Commons