Navigating ICU Survival With a Temporary Tracheostomy. A Phenomenological Hermeneutic Study

Adult intensive care unit survivors who were mechanically ventilated with a temporary tracheostomy tube have reported distressing physical discomfort, emotional strain and communication challenges during and after ICU discharge.

To reveal the meaning of the lived experiences of ICU adult survivors in and after ICU discharge.

Individual interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of eight adult ICU survivors from a medical-surgical ICU at a Norwegian university hospital. The theory of interpretation of the French philosopher Paul Ricoeur inspired the analysis.

The analysis resulted in two themes and six sub-themes. The first theme, 'ICU survivors' reflections on support and care', consists of the sub-themes: compassionate nursing as affirmation of personhood and family presence as existential anchor. The second theme, 'From critical care to uncertainty', consisted of sub-themes: voicelessness as existential isolation, transition as existential dislocation and ICU survivors' vulnerability in transition.

Adult ICU survivors had ambivalent emotions about their ICU stay. The narratives reveal the multifaceted struggles of ICU survivors, including physical impairments, psychological challenges and communication barriers. Further research is needed to understand the meaning of being a critically ill patient with a temporary tracheostomy in both the ICU and general wards.