Post‐ICU symptoms, consequences, and follow‐up: an integrative review

ABSTRACT Aim To determine the symptoms seen in patients after discharge from an intensive care unit (ICU) and the follow‐up programmes offered to help patients deal with the problems that arise after an ICU stay. Background An increasing number of people are discharged from an ICU to continued treatment, care and rehabilitation in general hospital wards, rehabilitation facilities and at home. A prolonged stay in an ICU is associated with stressful memories that have long‐term physical, mental and social consequences for health‐related quality of life. We therefore conducted a data search to identify the programmes that have attempted to cope with these consequences. Data sources Searches of six online databases were conducted in December 2013. Review methods Qualitative or quantitative, original, empirical studies on symptoms and consequences associated with ICU stay and the follow‐up programmes offered were reviewed. Excluded were studies in ICU patients younger than 18 years published in languages other than Scandinavian or English. We analysed original empirical studies according to symptoms, consequences and follow‐up programmes and added a category ‘new ideas’. This was done to identify any possible evolution in the programmes offered to patients after ICU care. The review of the literature and the critical analysis were summarized in a figure in order to join the different parts together into a logical, coherent whole. Conclusions Patients discharged from an ICU are heterogeneous, with a wide array of physical, mental and social problems. They and their close relatives can benefit from returning together to the ICU or participating in follow‐up programmes. Little is known about the specific effects of the different types of follow‐up. Relevance to clinical practice ICU staff as well as other professionals should prepare patients and relatives for the fact that they may need various types of help for many months after discharge from the ICU, and an overview of national and local opportunities for help should be offered.