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Purpose: To examine patients' experiences of receiving care on an ICU for COVID-19 and the subsequent rehabilitation process. Methods: An explorative and inductive design was used. Participants were recruited from two university hospitals in Sweden. Patients admitted to the ICU due to COVID-19 from March 2020 to April 2021, who enrolled in the ICU follow-up, and understood and spoke Swedish were invited to participate. In total, 20 participants completed a semi-structured interview, of whom 18 were included in the thematic analysis. Results: The analysis resulted in two themes: "An isolated world with silver linings" and "Recovery in the wake of the pandemic". Findings show that patients cared for on an ICU for COVID-19 during the pandemic felt safe but experienced a sense of vulnerability. After discharge, physical rehabilitation was a slow process with frustrating day-to-day fluctuations. Mentally, participants felt isolated, fatigued, and emotionally sensitive. Patients reported that love and support from family and friends were crucial for the recovery process. Conclusions: This study highlights the challenges of recovering from COVID-19, emphasizing the importance of continued support from health care, public services, family and friends. It provides important insights into patients' experiences and can inform future healthcare strategies and policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims and objectives To describe relatives' experiences of needing support and information and of the impact on everyday life six months after a significant other survived cardiac arrest treated with therapeutic hypothermia at an intensive care unit. Background Being the relative of a cardiac arrest patient has been described as an unexpected chaotic situation. It is a unique experience because the event was unexpected, but also because of the heart disease and the uncertain neurological impact and outcome. Design The design of the study was qualitative. Methods Interviews with 20 relatives were conducted six months after a significant other's cardiac arrest. The interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed using qualitative content analysis. Results Three main themes were identified: 'Difficulties managing a changed life situation', 'Feeling like I come second' and 'Feeling new hope for the future'. The most common support to relatives came from family and friends, but relatives felt abandoned by healthcare personnel when the significant other was discharged from the intensive care unit and hospital. Relatives lacked information concerning prognosis, rehabilitation and follow-up. They wished to meet others in the same situation and share experiences. Relatives also felt people around them did not understand their situation. Conclusions Everyday life was still affected six months after the event, involving increased domestic responsibilities, restrictions in social life and constant concern for the person stricken by cardiac arrest. Relevance to clinical practice The study shows that healthcare personnel need to improve provision of support and information and provide follow-up appointments for relatives to clarify prognosis and rehabilitation issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The clinical importance of immediate coronary angiography, with potentially subsequent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients without ST-elevation on the ECG is unclear. In this study, we assessed feasibility and safety aspects of performing immediate coronary angiography in a pre-specified pilot phase of the 'DIrect or Subacute Coronary angiography in Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest' (DISCO) randomized controlled trial (ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02309151).Methods: Resuscitated bystander witnessed OHCA patients >18 years without ST-elevation on the ECG were randomized to immediate coronary angiography versus standard of care. Event times, procedure related adverse events and safety variables within 7 days were recorded.Results: In total, 79 patients were randomized to immediate angiography (n = 39) or standard of care (n = 40). No major differences in baseline characteristics between the groups were found. There were no differences in the proportion of bleedings and renal failure. Three patients randomized to immediate angiography and six patients randomized to standard care died within 24 h. The median time from EMS arrival to coronary angiography was 135 min in the immediate angiography group. In patients randomized to immediate angiography a culprit lesion was found in 14/38 (36.8%) and PCI was performed in all these patients. In 6/40 (15%) patients randomized to standard of care, coronary angiography was performed before the stipulated 3 days.Conclusion: In this out-of-hospital cardiac arrest population without ST-elevation, randomization to a strategy to perform immediate coronary angiography was feasible although the time window of 120 min from EMS arrival at the scene of the arrest to start of coronary angiography was not achieved. No significant safety issues were reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]