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Advances in intensive care over the past few decades have significantly improved the chances of survival for patients with acute critical illness. However, this progress has also led to a growing population of patients who are dependent on intensive care therapies, including prolonged mechanical ventilation (PMV), after the initial acute period of critical illness. These patients are referred to as the "chronically critically ill" (CCI). CCI is a syndrome characterized by prolonged mechanical ventilation, myoneuropathies, neuroendocrine disorders, nutritional deficiencies, cognitive and psychiatric issues, and increased susceptibility to infections. It is associated with high morbidity and mortality as well as a significant increase in healthcare costs. In this article, we will review disease burden, outcomes, psychiatric effects, nutritional and ventilator weaning strategies as well as the role of palliative care for CCI with a specific focus on those requiring PMV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the critically ill adult, dysglycemia is a marker of disease severity and is associated with worse clinical outcomes. Close monitoring of glucose and use of insulin in critically ill patients have been done for more than 2 decades, but the appropriate target glycemic range in critically ill patients remains controversial. Physiological stress response, levels of inflammatory cytokines, nutritional intake, and level of mobility affect glycemic control, and a more personalized approach to patients with dysglycemia is warranted in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients. We discuss the pathophysiology and downstream effects of altered glycemic response in critical illness, management of glycemic control in the ICU, and future strategies toward personalization of critical care glycemic management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]