Conversation

I recently learned a rule of thumb: a day in the ICU translates to a week in recovery. The west has been in the ICU for 3 years, we’re talking about 21y of recovery already If you think that’s an over-estimate, the former USSR has still not recovered from ICU years (1988-92)
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I also learned that ICU care is as simple as it is brutally traumatic. It is the body being manipulated at laws-of-physics level rather than advanced pharmacology. Pressure, volume, oxygen, nutrients, excreta. The biochemistry is brute force carpet bombing, not smart bombs.
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The body politic is also the same. QE is like ventilator support Oxygen is reliable news Pressure regulation is logistics Etc etc. Not a fan of social organism metaphors for advanced stuff but at ICU first principles level it seems to work.
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On the other hand, as long as they’re still doing those brutal interventions, you’re in much better shape than if they tell you they’re going to “focus on keeping you comfortable”