Post-intensive Care Syndrome

The advent of modern intensive care units to treat critically ill patients has significantly expanded in the last half century, with mortality being an important outcome from the onset (Brummel, Crit Care Clin 34:515–526, 2018). Whilst survival rates from critical illness have continued to improve, survivors are often left with significant physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. These ongoing symptoms, referred to as Post Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS), can persist for many months or even years after critical care discharge, subsequently having a profound impact on patients and families’ lives. This chapter will discuss the history of PICS, along with the prevalence, risk factors and impact on patient recovery. It will set the scene for subsequent chapters which will explore the individual components that make up PICS, along with strategies for their prevention and management.