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Jaffa MN, Hwang DY. Goals of Care for Severe Acute Brain Injury Patients: When a Choice Is Not a Choice. Crit Care Med 2023; 51:978-980. [PMID: 37318295 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000005879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N Jaffa
- Department of Neurology, Ayer Neuroscience Institute, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
| | - David Y Hwang
- Division of Neurocritical Care, Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
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Rutz Voumard R, Dugger KM, Kiker WA, Barber J, Borasio GD, Curtis JR, Jox RJ, Creutzfeldt CJ. Goal-Concordant Care After Severe Acute Brain Injury. Front Neurol 2021; 12:710783. [PMID: 34603183 PMCID: PMC8485029 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.710783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) lack decision-making capacity, calling on families and clinicians to make goal-concordant decisions, aligning treatment with patient's presumed goals-of-care. Using the family perspective, this study aimed to (1) compare patient's goals-of-care with the care they were receiving in the acute setting, (2) identify patient and family characteristics associated with goal-concordant care, and (3) assess goals-of-care 6 months after SABI. Methods: Our cohort included patients with SABI in our Neuro-ICU and a Glasgow Coma Scale Score <12 after day 2. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected through surveys and chart review. At enrollment and again at 6 months, each family was asked if the patient would prefer medical care focused on extending life vs. care focused on comfort and quality of life, and what care the patient is currently receiving. We used multivariate regression to examine the characteristics associated with (a) prioritized goals (comfort/extending life/unsure) and (b) goal concordance. Results: Among 214 patients, families reported patients' goals-of-care to be extending life in 118 cases (55%), comfort in 71 (33%), and unsure for 25 (12%), while care received focused on extending life in 165 cases (77%), on comfort in 23 (11%) and families were unsure in 16 (7%). In a nominal regression model, prioritizing comfort over extending life was significantly associated with being non-Hispanic White and having worse clinical severity. Most patients who prioritized extending life were receiving family-reported goal-concordant care (88%, 104/118), while most of those who prioritized comfort were receiving goal-discordant care (73%, 52/71). The only independent association for goal concordance was having a presumed goal of extending life at enrollment (OR 23.62, 95% CI 10.19–54.77). Among survivors at 6 months, 1 in 4 family members were unsure about the patient's goals-of-care. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of patients are receiving unwanted aggressive care in the acute setting after SABI. In the first days, such aggressive care might be justified by prognostic uncertainty. The high rate of families unsure of patient's goals-of-care at 6 months suggests an important need for periodic re-evaluation of prognosis and goals-of-care in the post-acute setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Rutz Voumard
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kaley M Dugger
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Whitney A Kiker
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jason Barber
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Gian Domenico Borasio
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - J Randall Curtis
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ralf J Jox
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Adapting to a New Normal After Severe Acute Brain Injury: An Observational Cohort Using a Sequential Explanatory Design. Crit Care Med 2021; 49:1322-1332. [PMID: 33730742 PMCID: PMC8282680 DOI: 10.1097/ccm.0000000000004947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Treatment decisions following severe acute brain injury need to consider patients' goals-of-care and long-term outcomes. Using family members as respondents, we aimed to assess patients' goals-of-care in the ICU and explore the impact of adaptation on survivors who did not reach the level of recovery initially considered acceptable. DESIGN Prospective, observational, mixed-methods cohort study. SETTING Comprehensive stroke and level 1 trauma center in Pacific Northwest United States. PARTICIPANTS Family members of patients with severe acute brain injury in an ICU for greater than 2 days and Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 12. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS At enrollment, we asked what level of physical and cognitive recovery the patient would find acceptable. At 6 months, we assessed level of recovery through family surveys and chart review. Families of patients whose outcome was below that considered acceptable were invited for semistructured interviews, examined with content analysis. RESULTS For 184 patients, most family members set patients' minimally acceptable cognitive recovery at "able to think and communicate" or better (82%) and physical recovery at independence or better (66%). Among 170 patients with known 6-month outcome, 40% had died in hospital. Of 102 survivors, 33% were able to think and communicate, 13% were independent, and 10% died after discharge. Among survivors whose family member had set minimally acceptable cognitive function at "able to think and communicate," 64% survived below that level; for those with minimally acceptable physical function at independence, 80% survived below that. Qualitative analysis revealed two key themes: families struggled to adapt to a new, yet uncertain, normal and asked for support and guidance with ongoing treatment decisions. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Six months after severe acute brain injury, most patients survived to a state their families initially thought would not be acceptable. Survivors and their families need more support and guidance as they adapt to a new normal and struggle with persistent uncertainty.
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