Introduction:

The patient's acquired weakness in the Intensive Care Unit is a problem that causes deficiencies in his physical and functional state.

Objective:

Systematize essential contents related to the patient's acquired weakness in the Intensive Care Unit.

Method:

In the General Teaching Hospital “Dr. Agostinho Neto”, between January and September 2019, a narrative review of the subject was made through a search in electronic databases (Virtual Health Library, LILACS, PubMed, SciELO, RedALyC, Scopus). 135 documents were located and 25 relevant for the purpose of the review were chosen. The information was structured in the following aspects about the patient's acquired weakness in the Intensive Care Unit: definition, historical background, epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis and medical intervention.

Results:

Controversies were identified about the precise diagnostic criteria, the protocol of action for its prevention and rehabilitation and the lack of an instrument to stratify the risk of this complication.

Conclusions:

The bases for the preparation of the professionals in the diagnosis, the prevention of the acquired weakness of the patient in the Intensive Care Unit and its rehabilitation were systematized.

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