For Many Patients Leaving the ICU, the Struggle Has Only ...

What’s Happening

Here’s the thing: A long stay in intensive care can bring physical, cognitive, and mental health challenges that can take months or longer to resolve.

The New Old Age For Many Patients Leaving the ICU, the Struggle Has Only Just Begun By Paula Span Republish This Story (Corbis/) The accident happened in Pittsburgh on Nov. Joseph Masterson, a lawyer who was just days from retiring at age 63, suffered cardiac arrest while driving, plowed into a guardrail, and took an L consciousness. (shocking, we know)

This story also ran on The New York Times .

The Details

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Columns Other drivers stopped, broke the car window, and pulled him to safety. A passing volunteer firefighter performed CPR until an ambulance arrived to take Masterson to UPMC Mercy hospital.

Why This Matters

He spent 18 days in the medical intensive care unit there, 14 of them on a ventilator. He developed delirium, a common ICU condition, and needed antipsychotic drugs. Despite a feeding tube, he took an L weight.

This is the kind of health news that affects everyday decisions.

Key Takeaways

• “We honestly weren’t confident that he would pull through,” dropped Ron Dedes, his brother-in-law.
• 1 and returned home with near-constant family support.
• His once-garbled speech has markedly improved.

The Bottom Line

Screening tests after his discharge indicated cognitive impairment and depression. Among critical-care doctors, prolonged symptoms like his are known as “post-intensive care syndrome,” or PICS.

Are you here for this or nah?