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Freiburg University Medical Center launches new form of care for young patients in paediatric intensive care units / bundle of measures part of the multicentre study "NoPICS-Kids"

Children who are treated in an intensive care unit and their families can be affected by physical, psychological or social consequences long after the acute illness. In order to avoid such burdens, the University Medical Center Freiburg is launching a new care program in children's intensive care units as part of the multicentre study "NoPICS-Kids". Coordinated by the University Hospital of Tübingen, four university hospitals in Baden-Württemberg (Tübingen, Freiburg, Heidelberg and Mannheim) are testing measures to combat post-intensive care syndrome (PICS) in children and adolescents. This large study, which will run for at least 3.5 years, is being funded by the Federal Joint Committee to the tune of 9.6 million euros.

"Our aim is not only to stabilize children in the short term through intensive medical treatment, but also to mitigate the long-term consequences of the disease and promote their further development," says Prof. Dr. Hans Fuchs, Medical Director of Neonatology at the Department of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Freiburg University Medical Center. Dr. René Höhn, Managing Senior Physician in the Department of Congenital Heart Defects and Paediatric Cardiology at the University Medical Center Freiburg, adds: "With the early implementation at the University Medical Center Freiburg, we want to make an active contribution to sustainably improving care and relieving the burden on young patients and their families at an early stage."

Structured support in the intensive care unit

PICS refers to a range of possible long-term consequences that can occur after a stay in the intensive care unit. These affect not only the body, but also mental health and the social environment - both for children and adolescents and their families. Not all children develop late effects after intensive care treatment - nevertheless, every patient and every family should benefit from the new support services. These include very early mobilization by physiotherapeutic specialists, more psychological support and the targeted involvement of parents in care processes and decision-making procedures. The aim is to support recovery, prevent possible late effects and, under certain circumstances, reduce the length of stay in the intensive care unit.

Additional specialists have been hired at the University Medical Center Freiburg for the implementation - including psychologists, nurses and physiotherapists who have been specially trained for the new care processes. Close cooperation between the professional groups is intended to integrate the measures into everyday clinical practice without interfering with ongoing care. Initial results on the effectiveness of the new care elements are expected in 2027. If there are positive effects on the child's recovery and the prevention of PICS, the measures could be transferred to pediatric intensive care units nationwide in the medium term.