Every Deep-Drawn Breath: the evolution of critical care and one physician’s pursuit of hope
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- Create Date：2021-12-19 06:50:57
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：E Wesley Ely
- ISBN：1913348679
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Summary
An intensive-care doctor reveals the long-term problems caused by ICUs and how these can be prevented。
Thousands of people are admitted to intensive-care units （ICUs） every day， and this is only increasing with the Covid-19 pandemic。 Most of these admissions will be sudden， unexpected， and harrowing — an experience that can alter patients and their families in physical， emotional， and spiritual ways， with effects that endure for years。 But there is hope。
Dr Ely is a leading ICU doctor。 His unconventional methods minimise patients being harmed by the cutting-edge technologies that are saving their lives; post-intensive care syndrome （PICS） is a well-established complication that millions of ICU survivors battle， which Dr Ely aims to eradicate。 His cutting-edge studies have convinced doctors around the world to change their ICU practices for the better。
Through captivating stories， Dr Ely shows how he and colleagues from around the world have re-introduced humanity into the ICU， creating pathways that bring hope and healing to healthcare。 This is the future of medicine， and is a must-read for healthcare professionals， patients， and their families。
Thousands of people are admitted to intensive-care units （ICUs） every day， and this is only increasing with the Covid-19 pandemic。 Most of these admissions will be sudden， unexpected， and harrowing — an experience that can alter patients and their families in physical， emotional， and spiritual ways， with effects that endure for years。 But there is hope。
Dr Ely is a leading ICU doctor。 His unconventional methods minimise patients being harmed by the cutting-edge technologies that are saving their lives; post-intensive care syndrome （PICS） is a well-established complication that millions of ICU survivors battle， which Dr Ely aims to eradicate。 His cutting-edge studies have convinced doctors around the world to change their ICU practices for the better。
Through captivating stories， Dr Ely shows how he and colleagues from around the world have re-introduced humanity into the ICU， creating pathways that bring hope and healing to healthcare。 This is the future of medicine， and is a must-read for healthcare professionals， patients， and their families。
Reviews
Yael
，
Excellent combination of personal narrative， history of medicine and modern scientific updates。 Very thought provoking and will make me rethink some of my own patient encounters。
Courtney
，
As a former ICU nurse and current Internal Medicine resident going into palliative care， I cannot recommend this book enough。 Dr。 Ely truly captures the essence of his patients and why it is so crucial we look beyond medical advancements and towards “finding the person in the patient”。 Everybody who works in the ICU should read this book to understand the importance of improving quality outcomes for the people we are saving after they leave the hospital
Ciara
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Dr Ely is an amazing physician and human who really models treating the patient as a human first。 A wonderful book by a mentor to so many。
Katie Lo
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A must read for all everyone in healthcare
Denise
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Thank y0u Dr。 Ely， for doing this important work of reforming ICU treatment practices。
Kevin
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As an ICU physician myself， I was interested to read the experiences of a colleague who has spent decades in a field that is a black box to almost anyone outside of medicine （and many IN the medical field）。 His reflections on the hard won wisdom he has gained over the years is truly admirable and he immerses the reader in topics of medicine that even most health professionals keep at arms length。 His prose is preachy at times but may only seem that way to me since we’re in the same field。 This s As an ICU physician myself， I was interested to read the experiences of a colleague who has spent decades in a field that is a black box to almost anyone outside of medicine （and many IN the medical field）。 His reflections on the hard won wisdom he has gained over the years is truly admirable and he immerses the reader in topics of medicine that even most health professionals keep at arms length。 His prose is preachy at times but may only seem that way to me since we’re in the same field。 This served as a useful reminder of the devastating impact that delirium and weakness has on both patients and their families should they survive to discharge from the ICU。 I’ll keep his lessons and words of wisdom close by the next time I’m rounding on my units， that’s for certain。 。。。more
Mrs。 Danvers
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Well， that was lovely。
Luke Hodgson
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I'm an intensive care doctor and usually steer clear of such medical books but I know Prof Ely is an expert who thinks beyond the relatively limited narrative that most crit care research sticks to。 The book has inspired me to continue my current path and I think others in healthcare would be similarly moved。 Beyond clinicians， the book powerfully but sensitively conveys a story of hope that will appeal to the public。 I'm an intensive care doctor and usually steer clear of such medical books but I know Prof Ely is an expert who thinks beyond the relatively limited narrative that most crit care research sticks to。 The book has inspired me to continue my current path and I think others in healthcare would be similarly moved。 Beyond clinicians， the book powerfully but sensitively conveys a story of hope that will appeal to the public。 。。。more
Ruth
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This book has truly transformed my understanding of the ICU， sedation， the fate of ICU survivors， and the hope that lies within the critical care field to expand our concept of doing no harm， accomplishing much greater good。 It has restored my hope within a dark set of weeks in the ICU。
Maria Catalfio
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Every Deep Drawn Breath is a work that one can't help but be profoundly affected by。 Back in 2007， I watched my mom in the ICU。 I saw her on and off a ventilator at least twice during her cardiac treatment。 It was scary to see my mom having to endure this level of body invasion。 I'm moderately claustrophobic， and I'm sure that seeing her immobile and so far "under water" compelled me to wish the very opposite of Dr。 Ely's protocol for people in her situation。 I wanted her to be sedated。 Heavily。 Every Deep Drawn Breath is a work that one can't help but be profoundly affected by。 Back in 2007， I watched my mom in the ICU。 I saw her on and off a ventilator at least twice during her cardiac treatment。 It was scary to see my mom having to endure this level of body invasion。 I'm moderately claustrophobic， and I'm sure that seeing her immobile and so far "under water" compelled me to wish the very opposite of Dr。 Ely's protocol for people in her situation。 I wanted her to be sedated。 Heavily。 I couldn't bear the thought of the panic， fear， and terror she would experience if she was alert enough to have awareness of the invasive procedures being done to her。 My mom came off the the ventilator with relatively little delirium or associated ICU problems。 She passed away of congestive heart failure at home under hospice care about a month after being in the ICU。The experience of seeing her go through this convinced me I needed to put very clear instructions in my own advanced medical directives。 I wrote that should I require a ventilator to keep me alive， I wanted to be heavily sedated for the entire time - even if it meant potentially jeopardizing safely coming off of it。 Yes， I'd prefer not to survive， if it meant facing that kind of terror （not to mention the potential after effects that I didn't even know about until after I read this book）。Dr。 Ely makes the case， and has the scientific chops to back it up， that ICU treatment （which includes heavy sedation） rather than the illnesses that brought people to the ICU， is the cause of delirium and other inabilities to function afterward。 I literally held my breath as Dr。 Ely described the emergency room procedures that brought people from the brink of death back to the living。 I shared his excitement and awe of what the technology and skilled medical personnel could accomplish。 But the thrill wears off as the story proceeds past the ICU dramatics。 I loved this book。 Dr。 Ely's humanity courses powerfully through its pages。 He affirms what I hope is a basic instinct to do good。 I want to needlepoint the saying he quotes from Nelson Mandela， "May your choices reflect your hopes， not your fears，" even though I don't know how to needlepoint！ Reading this book caused me to rethink what I wrote in my advanced medical directives， though there is still the nagging doubt 。 。 。 but I trust Dr。 Ely。 。。。more
Dario
，
Review forEVERY DEEP-DRAWN BREATHWritten by Wes Ely， MDfrom Luisella Magnaniinfo@luisellamagnani。it www。luisellamagnani。itMy vision and mission within each page of this precious Book is to spread It in every Faculty ofMedicine of all the Universities of my Country， Italy。 The whole Book is a Lectio MagistralisProfessor Wes Ely is holding in our delicate and fragile time。 A Book which must help Cliniciansand Nurses not only in the ICU but in every Clinical Specializations。 Studying epistemologica Review forEVERY DEEP-DRAWN BREATHWritten by Wes Ely， MDfrom Luisella Magnaniinfo@luisellamagnani。it www。luisellamagnani。itMy vision and mission within each page of this precious Book is to spread It in every Faculty ofMedicine of all the Universities of my Country， Italy。 The whole Book is a Lectio MagistralisProfessor Wes Ely is holding in our delicate and fragile time。 A Book which must help Cliniciansand Nurses not only in the ICU but in every Clinical Specializations。 Studying epistemologically andphenomenologically the Work I take the liberty of asking every Student in Medicine and everyHealth Care Professional to focus deeply and fully on the sentence which contains all the othersentences， a sentence I want to devote to Every Child and Person needing Cares， in the World。Let’s listen to Professor Wes Ely’s voice: ‘It struck me then that the distance between the “living”and the “dead” stacks is extremely narrow， a hair， measured in minutes， perhaps， or fluid ounces。Yet it feels like a gaping void。 The entire world。’ Now more than ever Everybody must nourish ofsuch a learning in order to know， to go deeper beyond any surface and feel， taste， see， touch，hear， smell the real meaning of life， the real feeling-of-meaning of our living on earth。 Millisecondly。Monday， 8 th November 2021 。。。more
Amber Yates
，
Dr。 Ely eloquently describes his pathway of growth as a critical care physician from one of saving lives at all costs to one of saving lives worth living。 I was pleasantly surprised to learn Dr。 Ely and I are from the same hometown so I identified with several of his references （I promise not to turn him in to my friend who is a librarian at the Shreve Memorial Library）。 As a physician I was touched by his stories。 The patient population I focus on are no strangers to the ICU environment。 I wond Dr。 Ely eloquently describes his pathway of growth as a critical care physician from one of saving lives at all costs to one of saving lives worth living。 I was pleasantly surprised to learn Dr。 Ely and I are from the same hometown so I identified with several of his references （I promise not to turn him in to my friend who is a librarian at the Shreve Memorial Library）。 As a physician I was touched by his stories。 The patient population I focus on are no strangers to the ICU environment。 I wonder what affect these experiences are having on their long-term outcomes。 It also confirmed my practice of talking to sedated patients before and as I exam them in the ICU。 So much happens to them during their ICU stay and we don't know how much they will remember。 I will be recommending this book to my physician colleagues。 。。。more
Michelle Keyatta
，
Made me really rethink some of the common practices we use as ICU staff （I’m a nurse）。 It motivates me to do things differently from here on out。
Blake Farmer
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I was amazed how many patient stories could be packed into one book， and that so many of Dr。 Ely's patients （throughout his career！） agreed to be featured。 I'd guess this book was written mostly for physicians， but as a health care journalist I still got a ton out of it。 The personal stories really helped underline this broader point about how for a long time ICUs prided themselves on saving lives without considering the life they were sending patients home to。 Lots to think about after this， es I was amazed how many patient stories could be packed into one book， and that so many of Dr。 Ely's patients （throughout his career！） agreed to be featured。 I'd guess this book was written mostly for physicians， but as a health care journalist I still got a ton out of it。 The personal stories really helped underline this broader point about how for a long time ICUs prided themselves on saving lives without considering the life they were sending patients home to。 Lots to think about after this， especially with the number of COVID patients who've survived months in ICUs。 。。。more
Bethany
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What makes up a human life？ What are health and healing at their core？ What is the role of a doctor， a nurse， or any other medical professional in the care of their patients？ And how are our bodies， minds， and souls connected？ While Dr。 Ely does not -- and cannot -- answer all these questions， asking them is a good start。 Every Deep-Drawn Breath is an in-depth， narrative-propelled exploration of how intensive care should truly treat people as PEOPLE even and especially at their sickest。 When we What makes up a human life？ What are health and healing at their core？ What is the role of a doctor， a nurse， or any other medical professional in the care of their patients？ And how are our bodies， minds， and souls connected？ While Dr。 Ely does not -- and cannot -- answer all these questions， asking them is a good start。 Every Deep-Drawn Breath is an in-depth， narrative-propelled exploration of how intensive care should truly treat people as PEOPLE even and especially at their sickest。 When we are at our most frail and vulnerable， that is when we need especial compassion and love and care that transcends just our physical needs， important as those are。 I would highly recommend this book to everyone， especially those who want to think about what it means to truly love and care and have compassion on others。 Deaconesses， pastors， doctors， social workers， and everyone else would benefit from reading Dr。 Ely's book--as long as they don't assume that he has all the answers。 。。。more
Peter Murphy
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As a physician who has practiced for over 50 years I found this book an amazing eye opener。 It caused me to reflect deeply on every aspect of my life as a person husband teacher Christian and physician it is a must read for every clinician not just physicians but also PAsAnd MPs and RNsI must advise you that once you read this you will be forever charged for the better My only regret is that I did not read this 40 years ago As a teacher I am trying to ensure that all my students have the opportu As a physician who has practiced for over 50 years I found this book an amazing eye opener。 It caused me to reflect deeply on every aspect of my life as a person husband teacher Christian and physician it is a must read for every clinician not just physicians but also PAsAnd MPs and RNsI must advise you that once you read this you will be forever charged for the better My only regret is that I did not read this 40 years ago As a teacher I am trying to ensure that all my students have the opportunity to read this fantastic bookIt is life changing Thank you。 Dr Ely 。。。more
J
，
This truly inspiring book that describes the journeys of critically ill patients and their families as well as the growth of the author as an intensive care unit physician is filled with beautiful prose and moving stories。 Every Deep-Drawn Breath may be as non-fiction as it gets， since each and every account is real， but it reads like a page-turner。 After turning the last page， one gets the sense that one’s perspective on health and sickness， on joy and sadness， and on life and death， has change This truly inspiring book that describes the journeys of critically ill patients and their families as well as the growth of the author as an intensive care unit physician is filled with beautiful prose and moving stories。 Every Deep-Drawn Breath may be as non-fiction as it gets， since each and every account is real， but it reads like a page-turner。 After turning the last page， one gets the sense that one’s perspective on health and sickness， on joy and sadness， and on life and death， has changed forever。 。。。more
Lisa Tangen
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Enlightening and educational。 I loved the integration of classic books with each chapter。 I'm glad for the trend to look holistically at treating patients。 Definitely covering things to keep in mind personally。 I disagreed with the humanist perspective。 Enlightening and educational。 I loved the integration of classic books with each chapter。 I'm glad for the trend to look holistically at treating patients。 Definitely covering things to keep in mind personally。 I disagreed with the humanist perspective。 。。。more
Rebekah
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I've worked part-time in ICUs with critically ill and injured patients for 11 years。 This book was such a nice narrative of how this practice has changed and the crucial role of the team and family in patient success。 I appreciated the author highlighting the important role of rehab services and having families truly participate in recovery。The wake up call about this book is that the journey and struggle hasn't passed once your loved one "survives，" it's just beginning and life may not ever go I've worked part-time in ICUs with critically ill and injured patients for 11 years。 This book was such a nice narrative of how this practice has changed and the crucial role of the team and family in patient success。 I appreciated the author highlighting the important role of rehab services and having families truly participate in recovery。The wake up call about this book is that the journey and struggle hasn't passed once your loved one "survives，" it's just beginning and life may not ever go back to normal。 It's one of the most frustrating parts of people focusing on death rates with critical illness。 Anyone who has been through an ICU stay comes out changed。 Sometimes irrevocably。I often use music， hold a lot of hands， and encourage hugs when I can get patients standing。 I love to hear about patient's lives and families and careers。 I've met and learned about so many people。 The importance this book places on changing the ICU to I See You can't be overstated。 A great read if you'd like to peek inside the hospital where critical care is provided。 。。。more
Megan Quinn
，
Fascinating。 I had no idea such deteriorating effects could come out of an ICU or critical care stay。
Kirsten Smith
，
This is a great book; I learned so much。 It is written in a way that one can connect with what is being shared even if you’ve never dealt with ICU。 Filled with heart as well as head。 I hope the way he found to have worked is now standard throughout the US and hopefully the rest of the world。 I ran across the author listening to an interview with Dr。 Zubin Damania and knew I had to read the book。
Mary
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A doctor's account of the struggle to put an end to intensive care psychoses and other debilitating results of being under sedation for prolonged periods of time。 An effort to put quality into life-saving care。 An interesting read， but a bit too long， and， in addition， it has become a bit cloying for physicians to reveal their personal discovery that patients are persons。 This has nothing to do with the merits of what this physician accomplished， which is laudable in very many respects， not the A doctor's account of the struggle to put an end to intensive care psychoses and other debilitating results of being under sedation for prolonged periods of time。 An effort to put quality into life-saving care。 An interesting read， but a bit too long， and， in addition， it has become a bit cloying for physicians to reveal their personal discovery that patients are persons。 This has nothing to do with the merits of what this physician accomplished， which is laudable in very many respects， not the least of which is his success in saving lives in their entirety， not in just their remaining parts after an ICU stay。 。。。more
Martin Deporres
，
Impressive。 Though not a healthcare professional， I am impressed how the author used storytelling to convey deep insight。 What is the role of the healthcare professional？ What does that imply for the entire system？ "Doing good" is a worthy objective， but how should we understand good？ The author speaks to all this implicitly， which is enjoyable and preferred to having a "know-it-all" tell you how things should be。 Recommended。 Impressive。 Though not a healthcare professional， I am impressed how the author used storytelling to convey deep insight。 What is the role of the healthcare professional？ What does that imply for the entire system？ "Doing good" is a worthy objective， but how should we understand good？ The author speaks to all this implicitly， which is enjoyable and preferred to having a "know-it-all" tell you how things should be。 Recommended。 。。。more
Shelley Lee
，
This is a must read for everyone who has ever walked through the door of an Intensive Care Unit， either as a care provider， family member or patient。 Dr。 Ely brings the reader from the heart of Delirium as an occurrence in the ICU to the reality that ICU Delirium is a potentially life altering event that damages the lives that healthcare providers work so hard to save。 Dr。 Ely's reflective narrative and use of real patient stories illustrates the human side to both the patient and provider relat This is a must read for everyone who has ever walked through the door of an Intensive Care Unit， either as a care provider， family member or patient。 Dr。 Ely brings the reader from the heart of Delirium as an occurrence in the ICU to the reality that ICU Delirium is a potentially life altering event that damages the lives that healthcare providers work so hard to save。 Dr。 Ely's reflective narrative and use of real patient stories illustrates the human side to both the patient and provider relationship， making a case for real human care being the essence of cure despite all of the technology that is deployed to save life。Thank you Dr。 Ely。。。 you help to restore my faith that all is not lost in the cause for more human care in healthcare。 。。。more
Jennifer Mansour
，
A great book to remind us all to treat people like people， and the long lasting effects when we don’t。
Mary Grant
，
Much more than a medical book。。。This book contains many lessons that apply outside of critical care but also to daily life and the desire to always strive to do better。 I found the stories not only touching but helpful for a non-clinician to understand the science behind the A2F bundle。 The author also opens up his own life， mistakes and all， to truly engage the reader。 A truly pleasurable read that I highly recommend！
Jeff Bobin
，
If you interact with patients that spend time in Intensive Care Units （ICU） of the hospital you should take the time to read this book。 It is a combination of the history of critical care， what they have learned about sedation， delirium and long term impacts of those experiences。 Like most of medicine it is an evolving world of learning， making errors， correcting them and trying new ways of caring for those patients。 I found this fascinating and as a pastor helpful in understanding not only what If you interact with patients that spend time in Intensive Care Units （ICU） of the hospital you should take the time to read this book。 It is a combination of the history of critical care， what they have learned about sedation， delirium and long term impacts of those experiences。 Like most of medicine it is an evolving world of learning， making errors， correcting them and trying new ways of caring for those patients。 I found this fascinating and as a pastor helpful in understanding not only what is going on in the ICU but why some patients struggle after they get out of ICU。 。。。more
Margaret
，
This book was quite scholarly with many human interest anecdotes thrown in。 The main intent was to educate us about delirium and other long lasting results of ICU， ventilators， drugs， and severe illnesses。 The book was well researched and presented and I benefited from my reading and scanning of its content。
Melissa
，
This extraordinary book will change your understanding of medicine and science and restore your faith in humanity。 I loved every page and couldn’t put it down。 Dr。 Wes Ely is such a beacon of hope for humanizing our health care system and a beautiful example of following your gut and your instincts to change a system even when people tell you that you are wrong。
Bobby Stark
，