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Long stay in intensive care unit (ICU) and prolonged ventilation are deleterious for subsequent quality of life and surcharge financial capacity. We have already demonstrated the beneficial effects of using suggestive communication on recovery time during intensive care. The aim of our present study was to prove the same effects with standardized positive suggestive message delivered by an MP3 player. Patients ventilated in ICU were randomized into a control group receiving standard ICU treatment and two groups with a standardized pre-recorded material delivered via headphones: a suggestive message about safety, self-control, and recovery for the study group and a relaxing music for the music group. Groups were similar in terms of age, gender, and mortality, but the SAPS II scores were higher in the study group than that in the controls (57.8 ± 23.6 vs. 30.1 ± 15.5 and 33.7 ± 17.4). Our post-hoc analysis results showed that the length of ICU stay (134.2 ± 73.3 vs. 314.2 ± 178.4 h) and the time spent on ventilator (85.2 ± 34.9 vs. 232.0 ± 165.6 h) were significantly shorter in the study group compared to the unified control. The advantage of the structured positive suggestive message was proven against both music and control groups.

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Mechanical ventilation (MV) is a life saving method usually applied in the Intensive Care Units (ICU) for patients in a critical condition. Today it is more and more obvious that patients treated in the ICU require not only intensive physical (medical) care, but also intensive psychological support in order to avoid severe stress and to cope with the situation. They need help to understand the aim and helpfulness of the treatment, and information about the peculiar or frightening aspects of the situation, in order to promote positive processing. In this paper we summarise an approach, called psychological support based on positive suggestions (PSBPS), where patients on MV were supported with suggestions based on the principles of hypnotic communication. We present the foci of the phases of (1) initiation, (2) maintenance and (3) weaning off from MV from a psychological point of view, along with some verbatim suggestions we used with patients during these three completely different phases of MV. The main results of a randomised prospective study testing the effectiveness of PSBPS are presented briefly.

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Defibrillation with self-adhesive pads is the gold standard method during resuscitation as it allows minimal interruptions of chest compressions. Unfortunately, the implementation of the new recommendations often requires the purchase of new equipment. We have conducted a nationwide survey by telephone interviews with senior clinicians in order to investigate the current position of the implementation and to identify possible obstacles. We have audited 56 hospitals and 92 departments across the country and interviewed the senior consultants of the intensive care units (ICUs) and emergency departments (EDs). Only 6.5% of all responders were using hands-free defibrillation routinely at the time of the survey. According to 67.4% of respondents, purchasing of new equipment was not likely within 2 years. The major obstacle was the perceived higher costs (59.8%); however, the majority of clinicians (92.4%) were aware of the potential benefits of hands-free defibrillation. Our results suggest that the implementation of the new guidelines is slower than expected due to the unavailability of hands-free defibrillators. The major obstacle is the perceived cost-efficiency concerns. The need for an interim recommendation for safe delivery of defibrillation using hard paddles might be considered to enhance the chance of survival for a large number of patients.