Diagnosis
- Perform a short clinical assessment to determine the patient’s risk of developing:
Physical morbidity:
- Unable to get out of bed independently.
- Anticipated long duration of critical care stay.
- Obvious significant physical or neurological injury.
- Lack of cognitive functioning to continue exercise independently.
- Unable to self ventilate on 35% of oxygen or less.
- Presence of premorbid respiratory or mobility problems.
- Unable to mobilise independently over short distances.
Non-Physical morbidity:
- Recurrent nightmares, particularly where patients report trying to stay awake to avoid nightmares.
- Intrusive memories of traumatic events which have occurred prior to admission (for example, road traffic accidents) or during their critical care stay (for example, delusion experiences or flashbacks).
- New and recurrent anxiety or panic attacks.
- Expressing the wish not to talk about their illness or changing the subject quickly off the topic.
Investigation
Management
NICE Source: CG83 Rehabilitation after critical illness in adults. Summary compiled by Dr D P Sheppard MBBS.
