Episode #6: Broken Brains
Did you know that the longer patients are sedated, the more delirium they have, the less they can remember of their ICU, and the worse their cognitive function is after discharge and even years later?
I personally did not grasp the true meaning of “cognitive impairment” when I read it throughout the literature. It was not until I read countless reports from survivors on facebook pages that reflected severely impacted lives and capacity due to altered brain function.
In this episode, survivors tell us exactly how their brains have been broken and which parts of their lives are forever lost.
What does your cognitive function mean to you? How would prolonged sedation and delirium impact the rest of your life?
If I am ever critically ill, do not sedate me. Please spare my brain.
References:
Girard, T., Jackson, J., Pandharipande, P., Pun, B., Thompson, J., Shintani, A., Gordon, S., Canonico, A., Dittus, R., Bernard, G., & Ely, W. (2010). Delirium as a predictor of long-term cognitive impairment in survivors of critical illness. Critical Care Medicine, 38(7). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20473145
Herridge, M., Moss, M., Hough, C., Hopkins, R., Rice, T., Bienvenu, O., & Azoulay, E. (2016). Recovery and outcomes after the acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in patients and their family caregivers. Intensive Care Medicine, 42(5), 725–738. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27025938
Honarmand, K., Lalli, R., Priestap, F., Chen, J., McIntyre, C., Owen, A., & Slessarey, M. (2020). Natural history of cognitive impairment in critical illness survivors: a systematic review. American Journal of Respiratory Critical Care Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32078780Natural History of Cognitive Impairment in Critical Illness Survivors: A Systematic Review.
Larson, M., Weaver, L., & Hopkins, R. (2007). Cognitive sequelae in acute respiratory distress syndrome in patient with and without recall of the intensive care unit. Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, 13, 595–605. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=Cognitive+sequelae+in+acute+respiratory+distress+syndrome+in+patient+with+and+without+recall+of+the+intensive+care+unit
Rengel, K., Hayhurst, C., Pandharipande, P., Hughes, C. (2019). Long-term cognitive and functional impairments after critical illness. Anesthesia and Analgesia, 128(4), 772–780. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30883422
