[Long-term prognosis of the critically ill intensive care patient]

The survival rates of 380 critically ill intensive care patients (> 10 days intensive care, > 3 days mechanical ventilatory support) after gastrointestinal surgery were examined over 1 year following hospital discharge in a retrospective analysis of the years 1984-1994. Of the patients 57% survived intensive care medicine, 54% were discharged from hospital and 44% were still alive 1 year after discharge. Little difference was found between subgroups of gastrointestinal pathology. Of the survivors 28% had psychological problems in the first 6-12 months, 7% showed functional disorders and 3% showed prolonged periods of pain due to intensive therapy.