Between a nightmare and a miracle: A qualitative study of patient experience during and after intensive care unit admission in pregnancy or postpartum

IF 2.9 3区医学 Q2 CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE

Journal of critical care Pub Date : 2026-06-01 Epub Date: 2026-01-31 DOI:10.1016/j.jcrc.2026.155472

Yarden Zerem , Sharon Einav , Carolyn F. Weiniger , Reut Schvartz , Hen Y. Sela , Adi Finkelstein

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Background

Intensive care unit (ICU) admission of obstetric patients during pregnancy or postpartum is not uncommon. The long-term physical and emotional implications of such admissions require elucidation.

Aim

To describe obstetric patients' long-term perspectives on ICU admission and recovery.

Methods

A phenomenological approach was undertaken. All consecutive obstetric patients admitted to the ICU during 2016–2021 were invited to participate in a semi-structured interview after hospital discharge. Interviews were conducted from 12/2020 to 06/2022, and the transcripts were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase approach to reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

A total of 59 women aged 20–34 years admitted to an ICU during pregnancy or postpartum were interviewed. Qualitative inductive analysis of the interview transcripts generated three themes: the illness experience, an atypical patient, and recovery. Repetitive topics were a sense of disorientation, feeling distressed and scared, the importance of remaining in contact with and informed on the neonate, the importance of partner and family support, the challenges of being an atypical ICU patient, the difficulties in returning to normal life, and coping strategies.

Conclusions

This study sheds new light on the experiences of obstetric patients admitted to an ICU. It highlights missed opportunities for maternal‑neonatal bonding, the importance of family support, unique needs that often remain unmet, the need for effective communication with the ICU staff, and the physical and emotional long-term adverse effects of the experience. The patient's narrative can contribute to our understanding of the ICU experience as a whole and its outcomes.

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在噩梦和奇迹之间：在怀孕或产后重症监护病房住院期间和之后的患者体验的定性研究。

背景：产科患者在妊娠期或产后入住重症监护病房（ICU）并不罕见。这种承认对身体和情感的长期影响需要澄清。目的：探讨产科患者对ICU住院和康复的长期看法。方法：采用现象学方法。所有2016-2021年期间连续入住ICU的产科患者在出院后被邀请参加半结构化访谈。访谈时间为2020年12月至2022年6月，访谈记录采用Braun和Clarke的反思性主题分析六阶段法进行分析。结果：对59名孕期或产后入住ICU的20 ~ 34岁女性进行了访谈。访谈记录的定性归纳分析产生了三个主题：疾病经历，非典型患者和康复。重复的话题包括迷失方向、感到痛苦和害怕、与新生儿保持联系和了解新生儿情况的重要性、伴侣和家庭支持的重要性、作为一名非典型ICU患者的挑战、回归正常生活的困难以及应对策略。结论：本研究揭示了新的经验，产科患者入住ICU。它强调了错失的孕产妇与新生儿建立联系的机会、家庭支持的重要性、经常未得到满足的独特需求、与ICU工作人员进行有效沟通的需要，以及这种经历对身体和情感的长期不利影响。患者的叙述有助于我们对ICU的整体经验及其结果的理解。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of critical care 医学-危重病医学

CiteScore

8.60

自引率

2.70%

发文量

237

审稿时长

23 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Critical Care, the official publication of the World Federation of Societies of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine (WFSICCM), is a leading international, peer-reviewed journal providing original research, review articles, tutorials, and invited articles for physicians and allied health professionals involved in treating the critically ill. The Journal aims to improve patient care by furthering understanding of health systems research and its integration into clinical practice. The Journal will include articles which discuss: All aspects of health services research in critical care System based practice in anesthesiology, perioperative and critical care medicine The interface between anesthesiology, critical care medicine and pain Integrating intraoperative management in preparation for postoperative critical care management and recovery Optimizing patient management, i.e., exploring the interface between evidence-based principles or clinical insight into management and care of complex patients The team approach in the OR and ICU System-based research Medical ethics Technology in medicine Seminars discussing current, state of the art, and sometimes controversial topics in anesthesiology, critical care medicine, and professional education Residency Education.