Diagnosis and Management of Children with Post Intensive Care Syndrome in Paediatrics (PICS-p)

Main points

• PICS-p (Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in Paediatrics) refers to a group of symptoms that appear following a hospitalisation in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU)
• It may limit activity, impair the quality of life of the child and his family and disrupt family relationships. The symptoms affect children and/or their parents and/or their siblings and/or the close family circle.
• The diagnosis should be established in the presence of any de novo, persistent, or progres-sive symptoms following hospitalization in paediatric critical care, especially in patients iden-tified as being at increased risk.
• Screening for PICS-p involves all healthcare professionals likely to see the child in the year following admission to PICU. Questioning and clinical examination alone may point towards PICS-p.
• A number of risk factors have been identified before, during and after paediatric critical care.