1Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India
2Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai, India
3Shri Ram Murti Smarak Institute of Medical Sciences, Bareilly, India
4Howard County Center for Lung and Sleep Medicine, Columbia, MD, USA
5Internal Medicine, Dayanand Medical College and Hospital, Ludhiana, India
6Department of Internal Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Akron General, Akron, OH, USA
7Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA, USA
Post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) refers to persistent or new onset physical, mental, and neurocognitive complications that can occur following a stay in the intensive care unit. PICS encompasses muscle weakness; neuropathy; cognitive deficits including memory, executive, and attention impairments; post-traumatic stress disorder; and other mood disorders. PICS can last long after hospital admission and can cause significant physical, emotional, and financial stress for patients and their families. Several modifiable risk factors, such as duration of sepsis, delirium, and mechanical ventilation, are associated with PICS. However, due to limited awareness about PICS, these factors are often overlooked. The objective of this paper is to highlight the pathophysiology, clinical features, diagnostic methods, and available preventive and treatment options for PICS.