Post-Intensive Care Syndrome: A Practical Approach

This practical book offers in-depth explorations of the pathophysiology of post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), risk factors for its development, strategies for prevention, approaches to diagnosis and management, and general principles of ICU survivorship and aftercare, accompanied by case studies and personal perspectives from survivors of critical illness and their loved ones. An international, interprofessional group of experts covers key topics, including delirium, ICU-acquired weakness, and other hazards of hospitalization; the ABCDEF bundle, ICU diaries, and family-centred care; ICU follow-up clinics and peer support programs; and comprehensive rehabilitation strategies and therapeutic interventions both in and after the hospital. Special populations, including older adults, children, those with long-COVID syndrome, and survivors of neurological injury and cardiac arrest are also discussed. The book is essential reading for physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals caring for this patient population and serves as a detailed reference to help patients with PICS better understand the condition.

About the Author

Brad W. Butcher is Associate Professor in the Department of Critical Care Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He is a fellow of the American College of Critical Care Medicine and the founder and Director of the Critical Illness Recovery Center at UPMC Mercy, a preeminent ICU follow-up clinic. He is a recognized clinical expert on the care of patients with post-intensive care syndrome and a leader in survivorship research.