[Follow-up of intensive medical care patients]

Increasing limitations on personnel and material in intensive care render a reevaluation necessary. Follow-up of critically ill patients might be a useful contribution to this. In 330 patients the situation during intensive care and the subsequent stay on the ward, as well as physical and psychological status 3 years later, were analyzed. In 96% the acute event necessitating intensive care corresponded to a preexisting chronic illness. Although the mean stay of 3,6 days in ICU was relatively short, total time of hospitalization exceeded that of patients who did not undergo intensive care. Three quarters of the 330 patients survived ICU and two thirds the subsequent hospitalisation. Half of the patients were still alive three years later, most under medical supervision for the same illness. 89 Patients could be followed up after three years; 84% were physically independent and 53% were at work, but 20% of these had had to change jobs. The later outcome in patients ventilated during intensive care was inferior in all respects. Comparing the quality of life to 1977, 33% of the patients described their physical capacity and 14% their mental activity as reduced. One third of the patients had specific memories of the stay on the ICU, such as pain, fear of being alone, of the illness or of the technical environment. In conclusion, three years after intensive care half of the patients had survived and in most of the cases a qualitatively satisfactory life style was possible.