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Nakagawa S, Takayama H, Takeda K, Topkara VK, Yuill L, Zampetti S, McLaughlin K, Yuzefpolskaya M, Colombo PC, Naka Y, Uriel N, Blinderman CD. Association Between "Unacceptable Condition" Expressed in Palliative Care Consultation Before Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation and Care Received at the End of Life. J Pain Symptom Manage 2020; 60:976-983.e1. [PMID: 32464259 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.05.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Palliative care consultation before left ventricular assist device (LVAD) surgery (PreVAD) has been recommended, but its impact on goal-concordant care is unknown. OBJECTIVES To describe the association between patients' unique unacceptable condition articulated during PreVAD with the actual care provided at the end of life. METHODS Among 308 patients who had PreVAD between 2014 and 2019, 72 patients died before December 31, 2019. Based on the answers to the question, "Is there any condition you would find unacceptable?" patients were divided into ARTICULATE (those who could articulate their unacceptable condition clearly, n = 58) and non-ARTICULATE (those who could not, n = 14). Circumstances at death and end-of-life care were compared between groups. RESULTS Mean age at death was 63.2 years (SD ±13.1), 56 patients (77.8%) were males, and median duration of LVAD was 167.5 days (interquartile range 682). ARTICULATE patients died less frequently in the intensive care unit than non-ARTICULATE patients (33 patients, 57.9% vs. 13 patients, 92.9%; P = 0.014) and had ethics consultation less frequently (four patients, 6.9% vs. five patients, 35.7%; P = 0.011). Frequency of LVAD withdrawal was similar in both groups. Among ARTICULATE cohort, the unacceptable condition articulated in PreVAD did not seem to influence decisions at the end of life. CONCLUSION Patients who articulated their unacceptable condition clearly before LVAD surgery had less frequent ethics consultations and received less intensive care at the end of life, but it did not seem to affect the decision of LVAD withdrawal. It may be more important to engage in discussions around their unacceptable conditions, rather than the specific condition articulated. The question of an unacceptable condition should be part of any routine palliative care consultation before LVAD surgery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunichi Nakagawa
- Department of Medicine, Adult Palliative Care Service, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA.
| | - Hiroo Takayama
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Koji Takeda
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Veli K Topkara
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lauren Yuill
- Department of Care Coordination and Social Work, Adult Palliative Care Service, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Suzanne Zampetti
- Department of Medicine, Adult Palliative Care Service, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Katherine McLaughlin
- Department of Medicine, Adult Palliative Care Service, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Melana Yuzefpolskaya
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Paolo C Colombo
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yoshifumi Naka
- Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nir Uriel
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Craig D Blinderman
- Department of Medicine, Adult Palliative Care Service, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, New York, USA
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DeFilippis EM, Nakagawa S, Maurer MS, Topkara VK. Left Ventricular Assist Device Therapy in Older Adults: Addressing Common Clinical Questions. J Am Geriatr Soc 2019; 67:2410-2419. [DOI: 10.1111/jgs.16105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 07/08/2019] [Accepted: 07/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ersilia M. DeFilippis
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons New York New York
| | - Shunichi Nakagawa
- Adult Palliative Care, Department of Medicine Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons New York New York
| | - Mathew S. Maurer
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons New York New York
| | - Veli K. Topkara
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons New York New York
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