I (don't) wanna be sedated

For years, doctors thought they had done their jobs if patients came out of an intensive care unit alive.

Now, though, researchers say they are alarmed by what they are finding as they track patients for months or years after an I.C.U. stay. Patients, even young ones, can be weak for years. Some have difficulty thinking and concentrating or have post-traumatic stress disorder and terrible memories of nightmares they had while heavily sedated.

While patients may be suffering lingering effects from illnesses that landed them in the I.C.U., researchers are increasingly convinced that spending days, weeks or months on life support in the units can elicit unexpected, long-lasting effects.

From the NY Times. With all the usual criticism of American medicine as being insufficiently holistic, I wonder if ICU management is significantly different anywhere else. In any event, please pass the ounce of prevention.

Posted by David on January 12, 2009 2:10 PM