•
|
Adult patients who survive the life threatening phase of critical illness but continue to require extensive critical care support services (Daly, 1991) |
| |
|
•
|
A growing population of patients who have endured prolonged periods of mechanical ventilation and subsequent lengthy hospitalizations after recovering from a variety of critical illnesses (Douglas et al., 1997; Nasraway et al., 2000) |
| |
|
•
|
Chronic critical illness develops after a patient survives the life-threatening phase of critical illness but remains seriously ill and her/his recovery period requires extensive technological support across multiple care settings. It is characterized by prolonged periods of dependency on mechanical ventilation and multiple co-morbidities, associated with in-hospital mortality rates of 40-50%, continued morbidity and mortality following hospital discharge, and significant burdens on family caregivers (Douglas et al., 2002, MacIntrye, 2005). Adult failure to thrive syndrome develops during the chronic critical illness state and prolongs the CCI patient’s recovery period. Adult failure to thrive is defined as a low functional status associated with nutritional deficits, disturbed mood state, disrupted sleep, and social isolation (Higgins and Daly, 1995). |
|
