title: Post-ICU symptoms, consequences, and follow-up: an integrative review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  METHODS
  Searches of six online databases were conducted in December 2013.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Sciences, VIA University College, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors: Helle
authors: H
authors: Svenningsen
authors: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Neurosurgery NK, Dk-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Leanne
authors: L
authors: Langhorn
authors: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, DK-8200 Aarhus N, Denmark.
authors: Anne Sophie
authors: AS
authors: Ågård
authors: Clinical Nurse Specialist, Associated Professor, Aarhus University, Department of Public Health, Section of Nursing Science, Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine, Dk-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
authors: Pia
authors: P
authors: Dreyer
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010351:Patient Discharge; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000502:physiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: diary; follow-up; intensive care; memories; post intensive care syndrome