PURPOSE: To evaluate the functional status of patients within the first week of discharge from an intensive care unit (ICU), and to identify predictors and explanatory factors of functional status. METHODS: A prospective, observational, cohort study was conducted with consecutive ICU patients who had …

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INTRODUCTION: A stay in the intensive care unit (ICU), although potentially life-saving, may cause considerable discomfort to patients. However, retrospective assessment of discomfort is difficult because recollection of stressful events may be impaired by sedation and severe illness during the ICU stay. …

STUDY OBJECTIVE: Endotracheal suctioning in intubated patients is routinely applied in most ICUs but may have negative side effects. We hypothesised that on-demand minimally invasive suctioning would have fewer side effects than routine deep endotracheal suctioning, and would be comparable in duration …