Recollections of patients who underwent artificial ventilation in an intensive care unit

A review of the literature reveals only scarce data and observations concer ning the recollections of patients treated in a intensive care unit, althou gh intraoperative awareness under general anaesthesia has been extensively reported. In the present study we investigated the recollections of patient s who had undergone artificial ventilation in intensive care units. Methods: Fifty patients who had undergone mechanical ventilation in intensi ve care units at the University Hospital of Vienna were retrospectively int erviewed in regard of their experience during the treatment. A score was us ed to quantify discomfort. Results: All patients remembered having been treated at the intensive care unit. The most unpleasant experience was tracheal suctioning which was reme mbered by 60%. The next most unpleasant experience was extubation; 52% reme mbered this intervention. Eighty-four per cent of patients remembered the m edical staff, 90% of them had confidence in them, 86% remembered the nursin g staff and 91% had confidence in them. Conclusion: In spite of unpleasant memories of intensive care treatment, of which tracheal suctioning was perceived as most unpleasant, the majority o f patients expressed a positive evaluation of their treatment at the intens ive care unit.