09-07-2022 | Care | From the Inside
Feelings of strangeness in intensive care units patients
Authors:
Anne-Laure Poujol, Alexandra Laurent
Published in:
Intensive Care Medicine
|
Issue 9/2022
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Excerpt
After several weeks in the intensive care unit (ICU) following a lung infection, Mr Pol wakes up from a coma and gradually becomes aware of his situation. The healthcare team rejoice in the successful outcome of his extubation: “He’s really come a long way! I’m so pleased, after everything that he’s been through… he really fought!” When the healthcare professionals go into his room, they greet him: “Hello Mr Pol! It’s nice to see you awake! How are you?” While these professionals seem to know Mr Pol, he recognizes no one. If at first a mild temporary cognitive impairment makes it difficult to express his experience, Mr Pol progressively begins to express his discomfort to the psychologist of the unit: “I don’t understand. There are many people who pass by my door, they call me by my first name, say hello… but I don’t know anyone.” …
