What kinds of issues may remain after someone has been in an intensive care unit? Elizabeth Tracey reports

Podcast: Download (Duration: 1:02 — 1.4MB)

Subscribe: RSS

PICS stands for post intensive care syndrome, and recent data indicate that perhaps the majority of people who’ve been hospitalized in an ICU will have what are called sequelae, or lingering issues once they’re stepped down or discharged. Johns Hopkins critical care expert Rohan Mathur describes just how global the impact might be.

Mathur: Post ICU syndrome generally refers to all of the physical, cognitive, mental health impacts on someone's life after an extended ICU stay. We're only just beginning to understand the whole extent of this. Studies have shown that over half of patients were in the ICU in the first year after their ICU stay end up with physical issues. Could be things like weakness, loss of mobility and cognitive issues. Things like executive functioning, multitasking and you can also have mental health issues.   :29

Studies indicate that loved ones are often impacted by a form of PICS also, resulting from their witness of watching someone navigate the many challenges of critical care. Mathur says awareness is the first step in helping to manage PICS. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.