Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) in Trauma ICU Patients: Recognition, Screening, and PICS Clinics

Dr. Jeremy Levin and Dr. Ilya Rakitin discuss post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) amd an AAST Critical Care Committee consensus review published in TSACO, emphasizing growing awareness in trauma and surgical populations. They review suggested assessments, how PICS informs goals-of-care discussions, and recommendations for PICS clinics, including timing of follow-up, multidisciplinary staffing, and challenges such as resources, reimbursement, and long-distance follow-up, while highlighting research needs and an upcoming AAST meeting session on life after the ICU. Supplemental MaterialAnderson J, Nohra EA, Liveris A, Appelbaum R, Ratnasekera A, Peralta R, Young J, Kirsch JM, Jawa R, McLean S, Robinson B, Cuschieri J. Post-intensive Care Syndrome (PICS): an American Association for the Surgery of Trauma Critical Care Committee Consensus Guideline - Defining, Recognizing, and Managing PICS Associated Physical Impairment, Cognitive Dysfunction, and Thromboinflammatory Dysregulation. Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2026 Apr 3;11(2):e002172