Acta anaesthesiologica Scandinavica
Swedish Consensus Recommendation for Follow-Up After ICU Stay
By Åkerman E, Schandl A, Ringdal M and 2 others.
Abstract
Background
A substantial proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) survivors experience long-term physical, psychological and cognitive impairments after critical illness. However, methods for identifying patients in need of post-ICU support vary widely. As a result, many patients are left without access to established rehabilitation pathways. This consensus recommendation provides a framework for the organisation and content of follow-up for adult ICU survivors in Sweden, informed by available evidence, stakeholder perspectives and expert consensus.
Methods
The National System for Knowledge-Driven Healthcare Management (NPO) in Sweden commissioned the development of a practice recommendation for the follow-up of critically ill adults. Multidisciplinary experts in ICU survivorship formed a task force group. A systematic literature search in four databases was conducted in 2024 to identify pre-existing systematic reviews on the topic. The literature was reviewed, assessed for quality and recommendations were developed based on the literature evidence. The draft was discussed among multiprofessional groups involved in follow-up, in workshops with critical care nurses (n = 30) and professionals responsible for follow-up clinics (n = 74) and among patient representatives (n = 4). The final draft underwent external peer review by representatives from relevant professional organisations, the national registry for intensive care and governmental agencies in Sweden.