Objective:

To measure functional outcome of long-stay intensive care unit patients in the Australian population.

Methods:

All 68 patients admitted between July 2000 and July 2002 who spent 28 consecutive days or longer in a 30-bed university-affiliated medical–surgical ICU.

Main outcomes measures:

Glasgow Outcome Scores were recorded by chart review or telephone in the third quarter of 2003, giving a follow-up of 1–3 years (mean, 2 years).

Results:

Patients comprised 22 trauma (32%), 16 cardiothoracic (24%) and 15 each (22%) general medical and surgical patients. Average age was 59.2 years (SD, 18.3 years), and mean APACHE II score was 22.2 (range, 7–52). Fourteen of 68 patients (21%) died during the hospital admission. Of the 54 patients discharged, 53 were followed up, and one was untraceable. Nineteen of these 53 (36%) had died. Of the 34 survivors (64% of hospital survivors, 50% of long-stay ICU patients), 17 (50%) were leading normal active lives, 15 (44%) were disabled but independent, with two (6%) needing daily support. None were in a persistent vegetative state.

Conclusions:

Of 68 long-stay ICU patients, an average of 2 years after discharge, 50% were alive, including 25% living normal active lives. The remaining 25% described some disability. In most cases (88%), this was mild: only two patients (3% of the total group) depended on daily support. No patients were left in a persistent vegetative state.

Crit Care Resusc 2006; 8: 200–204

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