AACN advanced critical care
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The number of patients surviving critical illness in the United States has increased with advancements in medicine. Post-intensive care syndrome and post-intensive care syndrome-family are terms developed by the Society of Critical Care Medicine in order to address the cognitive, psychological, and physical sequelae emerging in patients and their families after discharge from the intensive care unit. In the United Kingdom and Europe, intensive care unit follow-up clinics have been used to address the complications of post-intensive care syndrome for some time. However, the interprofessional clinic at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is among the first in the United States to address the wide variety of problems experienced by intensive care survivors and to provide patients and their families with care after discharge from the intensive care unit.
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Post-intensive care syndrome, a condition defined by new or worsening impairment in cognition, mental health, and physical function after critical illness, has emerged in the past decade as a common and life-altering consequence of critical illness. New strategies are urgently needed to mitigate the risk of neuropsychological and functional impairment common after critical illness and to prepare and support survivors on their road toward recovery. The present state of critical care survivorship is described, and postdischarge care delivery in the United States and the potential impact of the present-day fragmented model of care delivery are detailed. A novel strategy that uses peer support groups could more effectively meet the needs of survivors of critical illness and mitigate post-intensive care syndrome.
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Unplanned readmission to the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with poor prognosis, longer hospital stay, increased costs, and higher mortality rate. In this retrospective study, involving 1368 patients, the risk factors for and outcomes of ICU readmission after cardiac surgery were analyzed. The readmission rate was 5.9%, and the most common reason for readmission was cardiac issues. ⋯ Other factors were high blood glucose level, hemoglobin level, and score on the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II. In-hospital stay was longer and late mortality was higher in the readmitted group. These data could help clinical practitioners create improved ICU discharge protocols or treatment algorithms to reduce length of stay or to reduce readmissions.
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Recent technological advances in the management of patients with cardiovascular implantable electronic devices (CIEDs) have expanded clinicians' ability to remotely monitor patients with CIEDs. Remote monitoring, in addition to periodic in-person device evaluation, provides many advantages to patients and clinicians. Aside from the therapeutic and diagnostic benefits of pacemakers, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, cardiac resynchronization therapy devices, and implantable loop recorders, improvement in clinical outcomes, clinical efficiencies, and patient experience can be realized with the adoption of remote CIED monitoring. These advantages create significant value to both patients and CIED follow-up centers.