Beyond survival: understanding post-intensive care syndrome

Lovish Gupta; Maazen Naduthra Subair; Jaskaran Munjal; Bhupinder Singh; Vasu Bansal; Vasu Gupta; Rohit Jain

doi:10.4266/acc.2023.01158

Review Article 23 Beyond survival: understanding post-intensive care syndrome: Lovish Gupta¹, Maazen Naduthra Subair², Jaskaran Munjal³, Bhupinder Singh⁴, Vasu Bansal⁵, Vasu Gupta⁶, Rohit Jain⁷; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4266/acc.2023.01158
Published online: March 4, 2024

¹Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India

²Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India

³Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, India

⁴Howard County Center for Lung and Sleep Medicine, Columbia, MD, USA

⁵Internal Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India

⁶Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, OH, USA

⁷Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA

Received: 11 September 2023 • Revised: 3 November 2023 • Accepted: 8 November 2023

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Abstract

Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) refers to persistent or new onset physical, mental, and neurocognitive complications that can occur following a stay in the intensive care unit. PICS encompasses muscle weakness; neuropathy; cognitive deficits including memory, executive, and attention impairments; post-traumatic stress disorder; and other mood disorders. PICS can last long after hospital admission and can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial stress for patients and their families. Several modifiable risk factors, such as duration of sepsis, delirium, and mechanical ventilation, are associated with PICS. However, due to limited awareness about PICS, these factors are often overlooked. The objective of this paper is to highlight the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic methods, and available preventive and treatment options for PICS.