Palliative medicine
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Palliative medicine · Apr 2015
Multicenter StudyHospital rapid response team and patients with life-limiting illness: a multicentre retrospective cohort study.
Approximately one-third of rapid response team consultations involve issues of end-of-life care. We postulate a greater occurrence in patients with a life-limiting illness, in whom the opportunity for advance care planning and palliative care involvement should be offered. ⋯ Patients with a life-limiting illness had worse outcomes post-rapid response team consultation. Our findings suggest that a routine clarification of goals of care for this cohort, within 3 days of hospital admission, may be advantageous. These discussions may provide clarity of purpose to treating teams, reduce the burden of unnecessary interventions and promote patient-centred care agreed upon in advance of any deterioration.
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Palliative medicine · Apr 2015
Multicenter StudyAdmission of the very elderly to the intensive care unit: family members' perspectives on clinical decision-making from a multicenter cohort study.
Little is known about the perspectives and experiences of family members of very elderly patients who are admitted to the intensive care unit. ⋯ There is incongruity between family values and preferences for end-of-life care and actual care received for very elderly patients who are admitted to the intensive care unit. Deficiencies in communication and decision-making may be associated with prolonged use of life-sustaining treatments in very elderly critically ill patients, many of whom ultimately die.
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Palliative medicine · Apr 2015
ReviewPatients' perception of implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation at the end of life.
Individualised care at the end of life requires professional understanding of the patient's perception of implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation. ⋯ Patients regard the implantable cardioverter defibrillator as a complex and solely beneficial device, with little insight regarding its potential impact on a peaceful death. This review confirms the need for professionals to discuss with patients and families implantable cardioverter defibrillator functionality and deactivation at appropriate opportunities.
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Palliative medicine · Apr 2015
Observational StudyEnd-of-life care in the intensive care unit: a patient-based questionnaire of intensive care unit staff perception and relatives' psychological response.
Communication is a hallmark of end-of-life care in the intensive care unit. It may influence the impact of end-of-life care on patients' relatives. We aimed to assess end-of-life care and communication from the perspective of intensive care unit staff and relate it to relatives' psychological symptoms. ⋯ Communication should be improved within the intensive care unit caregiver team to strengthen the involvement of nurses in end-of-life care. Improved communication between caregivers and the family might lessen relatives' long-term anxiety.