Understanding Your ICU Stay: Information for Patient and Families

The Society of Critical Care Medicine has a great new guide for patients and 

families: Understanding Your ICU Stay. This should help improve communication and reduce conflict.  Here is the table of contents:



Why Do ICU Patients Look and Act That Way?



Chronic Critical Illness in Adults Requiring Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation



Participating in Care: What Questions Should I Ask?



Making Decisions About ICU Care



What Are the Choices Regarding Life Support?



Sepsis: What You Should Know



Taking Care of Yourself While a Family Member Is in the ICU



Critical Care Medication 



Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) 



Death by Neurological Criteria (Brain Death)



What to Expect After Your Family Member Leaves the ICU: Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) and Other Issues 



Life Support Equipment



What to Expect When Your Child Is in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU)



Palliative Care for Children



Glossary



Resources