Quality of life after intensive care in trauma patients.
Published studies and our own preliminary results show that Intensive Care Unit (ICU) patients admitted after severe trauma, all report reduced quality of life (QOL) after discharge. In contrast to other ICU patients, this reduction is decreased by time, but does not seem to reach pre-ICU levels. Interventions to improve this situation have not been documented. This should be a high priority aspect for all health personnel caring for patients surviving severe trauma.
Flaatten
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H
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway. Hkfl@helse-bergen.no
Ulvik
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