The ICU Guide for Families: Understanding Intensive Care and How You Can Support Your Loved OneICU events are not uncommon but knowing what to do when a loved one is placed there is. This work explores the ICU with an eye toward guiding families to getting the best care for their beloved patient Intensive care will touch almost all of us at some point – whether directly, or through our families and or friends. This book is for every family of patients in the ICU, who have suddenly entered an intimidating and alien world, in which they feel powerless and out of control. In simple, direct language, Lara Goitein, MD, gives clear explanations of all aspects of intensive care – what all those lines and tubes are; common conditions such as sepsis and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS); physical changes in patients and what they mean; common procedures and their risks and benefits; and the people and the culture of the ICU. One full section of the book is devoted to Covid-19-specific issues. In addition, the book provides concrete advice for how family members can be effective advocates on behalf of their loved ones –what to know before giving consent for procedures, how to interact with ICU staff, how to help the ICU team guard against common complications of ICU care, and how to approach important decisions about end-of-life care. Along the way, the author gently reminds of us of what, in the end, matters most in the ICU. For readers who may be distracted and exhausted, this is a clear, accessible guide with concrete recommendations for getting the best care and asking the right questions along the way. A compassionate resource in a time of extreme stress, this book offers support to anyone touched by an ICU stay. |
Contents
| 1 | |
The First 3 Days | 27 |
The First 2 Weeks | 55 |
Common Procedures for ICU Patients | 79 |
COVID19Specific Issues in the ICU | 117 |
After the First 2 Weeks | 141 |
Dying in the ICU | 157 |
Surviving the ICU | 169 |
Conclusion | 183 |
Appendix | 185 |
Notes | 187 |
| 197 | |
| 211 | |
About the Author | 217 |
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The ICU Guide for Families: Understanding Intensive Care and How You Can ... Lara Goitein Limited preview - 2021 |
Common terms and phrases
accessed February 17 acute airway antibiotics ARDS artery ask your nurse attending physician balloon bedside bleeding blood clots blood flow blood pressure blood thinners brain called cardiac cardiopulmonary resuscitation caregivers catheter catheterization cause central line Central venous catheter chapter chest tube clinical colonoscopy common complications COVID-19 patients Critical Care Medicine death decisions discharge discussed disease doctors and nurses endoscopy endotracheal tube example family members February 17 feel fluid gastric acid gastrointestinal heart hemodialysis hospital ICU admission ICU doctor ICU patients ICU stay ICU team important infection injury inserted intubation kidney loved one’s low blood lung main risks mechanical ventilation monitor organ donation outcomes oxygen pandemic patients with COVID-19 percent person placement pneumonia problems procedure proxy pulmonary rare relative relative’s removed require respiratory sedation sedatives sepsis severe sometimes surgery survival therapist thoracentesis tions tracheostomy UpToDate usually vein withdraw life support