LONG-TERM OUTCOME OF CRITICALLY ILL INTEN SIVE-CARE PATIENTS

The survival rates of 380 critically ill intensive care patients (>10 days intensive care, >3 days mechanical ventilatory support) after gas trointestinal surgery were examined over 1 year following hospital dis charge in a retrospective analysis of the years 1984-1994. Of the pati ents 57% survived intensive care medicine, 54% were discharged from ho spital and 44% were still alive 1 year after discharge. Little differe nce 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 du e to intensive therapy.