Každé hluboké nadechnutí – Ely Wes (2023)

For patients in intensive care and their loved ones, sophisticated technologies used in intensive care units save lives of people suffering from failures of the lungs, heart, kidneys, and other organs. While the machines are working, patients usually need to be sedated to avoid pain and discomfort. However, prolonged immobilization, drug-induced unconsciousness, and invasions into the patient's body take a toll in the form of nerve damage, muscle weakness, serious infections, and even a certain type of cognitive disruption known as delirium acquired in intensive care. The return to normal life can then be arduous, if not impossible. People may survive, but they are unable to work, engage in sports, enjoy themselves, or rest and sleep well. They suffer from fatigue, pain, depression, memory and judgment issues, their emotions are disrupted, and their quality of life is diminished. How can these undesirable effects of life-saving healthcare in intensive care be eliminated or at least minimized? How can dignity be preserved for critically ill patients, saving not only their bodies but also their souls? How can they be handed over to their loved ones unbroken and vital? And how can families of patients assist doctors in this? Searching for answers has been the focus of intensivist Prof. Ely throughout his professional career. The reasons...