Recommendations for intensive care follow-up clinics; report from a survey and conference of Dutch intensive cares

BACKGROUND: With the increasing awareness of postintensive care syndrome and the unbridled development of post-ICU clinics in the Netherlands, guidelines for ICU after care are needed. The purpose of this study was to develop recommendations for the set-up of post-ICU clinics.

METHODS: Recommendations regarding the design of post-ICU clinics were formulated based on a survey among Dutch ICUs and the available literature. Subsequently, in a round table conference stakeholders discussed and voted on a final approval of the recommendations.

RESULTS: The response rate of our survey was 70% (57 of 82), 40% of the respondents provided ICU after care. Twenty-one people from 16 ICUs participated in the round table conference. Only two studies are available with information on organization and effectiveness of post-ICU clinics. It is recommended to invite patients who are mechanically ventilated for more than 2 days at a post-ICU clinic between 6 and 12 weeks after hospital discharge and screen for physical, psychological and cognitive impairments by using validated electronic patient-reported questionnaires. The set-up of a national registry for benchmarking and research purposes is suggested.

CONCLUSION: This study recommends how to organize post-ICU clinics based on literature and expert opinion. The implementation of the recommendations will facilitate the set-up of post-ICU clinics, research on effectiveness of post-ICU clinics and benchmarking of quality of ICU care.