The PICS (Post Intensive Care Syndrome)

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Patients treated in intensive care units, they can show long term damage both physical and cognitive and psychiatric. The situation which can occur after entry of the patient into the ICU, but also to continue after his discharge and may include any physical, cognitive and/or psychological impairment defined as Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS).

Aim: The aim of the present bibliographic analysis was to investigate the theoretical and clinical aspects of the Post-ICU Syndrome (PICS) in modern literature.

Methodology: A study of contemporary literature was conducted, including articles and published research studies of the last two years (2020-2022) in the English language, on international scientific databases (PubMed, ScienceDirect, Medscape, WHO, NHS).

Results: The complications that can occur during the syndrome after the ICUs can be classified into physical, psychiatric/psychological and cognitive, while there can often be an overlap between them complications between these categories. Significant complication in its context PICS is the delirium that is observed in significant percentages of those hospitalized in the ICU. PICS beyond the patient itself affects and his close people, a situation called family – PICS (fPICS). THE The treatment of PICS is multifactorial and can be simplified with use of ABDCEF – bundle.

Conclusions: PICS is a clinical entity with importance in the quality of life and functionality of patients and their families. Once PICS is recognized, recovery, management and follow-up of the patient should be carried out by a specialist interdisciplinary team. Further studies are needed on the pathophysiological mechanisms, genetic factors and screening.

Keywords: PICS, FPICS, intensive care unit, delirium, follow-up