Sleeping Soundlessly in the Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

An estimated 70% of patients who have been in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) experience some form of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS). As a stressful environment, the ICU can be traumatic for any patient; however, the disruption of sleep experienced by patients in ICU negatively impacts their mental status and recovery. One of the most significant contributors to sleep disruption is the constant blare of monitor alarms, many of which are false or redundant. Through multisensory approaches and procedural redesign, the hostile acoustic environment of the ICU that causes so many to suffer from PICS may be alleviated. In this paper, we present suggestions for improving the ICU acoustic environment to possibly reduce the incidence of post-ICU complications such as PICS.

Multisensory alarm to benefit alarm identification and decrease workload: a feasibility study

“…Alarms often exceed WHO volume recommendations (< 50 dB, often comparable to a human scream or infant’s cry) which negatively affect both medical personnel as well as patient [ 7 ]. In severe cases, these frequent alarms can contribute to the development of Post-Intensive Care Syndrome in patients, which is a collection of ailments that follow patients home after being discharged from and intensive care facility [ 10 ]. These symptoms can often range from a wide variety of physical problems to mental symptoms very similar to post-traumatic stress disorder.…”