Each year, hundreds of thousands of patients in the U.S. and millions
worldwide become critically ill. Patients who require care in the
intensive care unit (ICU) have the most serious illnesses, often requiring
multiple forms of life support. While the science of medicine has
significantly advanced in the past 30 years, these advances sometimes
create many questions, such as:
• Will my loved one be able to live independently after this?
• What kind of rehabilitation will my loved one need?
• What will my loved one’s quality of life be after this illness?
More than ever, medical teams rely on families to help them make
important decisions about their loved ones’ care, and their futures.
The purpose of this series is built on the ideas that knowledge is power
and that every patient needs an advocate. Here, we share some of the
most important advances in ICU medicine so patients and their families
can ask educated questions.