Long-term follow-up in pediatric intensive care-a narrative review

Area of Science:

• Pediatric critical care medicine
• Intensive care unit (ICU) survivorship
• Long-term health outcomes in children

Background:

• Pediatric intensive care has advanced, leading to improved survival rates for critically ill children.
• Increased survival in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) results in a growing population of survivors with potential long-term consequences.
• Existing literature documents physical, psychosocial, and cognitive impairments in these children, highlighting the need for structured follow-up.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore pediatric post-intensive care syndrome (PICS).
• To summarize multifactorial deficits and morbidity in children after PICU discharge.
• To review current long-term follow-up practices and identify research gaps.

Main Methods:

• This study is a narrative review of existing literature.
• It synthesizes information on pediatric post-intensive care syndrome.
• It examines current practices and future research directions in PICU follow-up.

Main Results:

• Survivors of pediatric intensive care often experience significant long-term functional impairments (physical, psychosocial, cognitive).
• There is a lack of standardized, evidence-based approaches for long-term follow-up care for pediatric ICU survivors.
• Current follow-up practices are inconsistent and require further research and development.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric post-intensive care syndrome presents a complex challenge with multifactorial deficits.
• Establishing standardized, evidence-based follow-up programs is crucial for optimizing long-term outcomes for pediatric ICU survivors.
• Further research is needed to address gaps in understanding and develop effective long-term care strategies.