States worse than death

Dying in the ICU : Changes in end of life decisions from 2011 to 2018 in the ICU of a communal tertiary hospital in Germany

BACKGROUND

With modern intensive care medicine, even older patients and those with pre-existing conditions can survive critical illnesses and major operations; however, unreflected application of intensive care treatment might lead to a state called chronic critical illness. Today, withholding treatment and/or treatment withdrawal precede many deaths in the intensice care unit (ICU). We looked at changes in measures at the end of life and withholding or withdrawal of treatment in the ICU of a German tertiary hospital in 2017/2018 compared to 2011/2012.

METHODS

In this retrospective explorative study, we analyzed end of life practices in adult patients who died in an intermediate care unit (IMC)/ICU of Klinikum Hanau in 2017/2018. We compared these data with data from the same hospital in 2011/2012 RESULTS: Of the 1246 adult patients who died in Klinikum Hanau in 2017/2018, 433 (35%) died in an ICU or IMC unit. Deceased ICU patients were 74.0 ± 12.5 years and 86.6% were older than 60 years. At least one life-sustaining measure was withheld in 278 (76.2%) and withdrawn in 159 (46.3%) of patients. More than three quarters of patients (n = 276, 75.6%) had a do not resuscitate (DNR) order and in about half of the patients invasive ventilation (n = 175, 49.9%) or renal replacement therapy (n = 191, 52.3%) was limited. In 113 patients (31.0%) catecholamine treatment was withdrawn, in 72 (19.7%) patients invasive ventilation and in 49 (13.4%) patients renal replacement therapy. Compared to 2011/2012, we saw an increase by ~15% (absolute increase) in withholding and withdrawal of treatment and observed an effect of documents like advance directive or healthcare proxy.

CONCLUSION

In 76.2% of deceased ICU patients withholding treatment and in 43.6% treatment withdrawal preceded death. Compared to 2011/2012 treatment was withheld or withdrawn more often. Compared to 2011/2012, we saw an increase (~15% absolute) in withholding and withdrawal of treatment. After withholding or withdrawal of treatment, most patients died within 3 and 2 days, respectively.

Cost of Futile ICU Care in One Ontario Hospital

Critical care is a costly and finite resource that provides the ability to manage patients with life-threatening illnesses in the most advanced forms available. However, not every condition benefits from critical care. There are unrecoverable health states in which it should not be used to perpetuate. Such situations are considered futile. The determination of medical futility remains controversial. In this study we describe the length of stay (LOS), cost, and long-term outcomes of 12 cases considered futile and that have been or were considered for adjudication by Ontario’s Consent and Capacity Board (CBB). A chart review was undertaken to identify patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), whose care was deemed futile and cases were considered for, or brought before the CCB. Costs for each of these admissions were determined using the case-costing system of The Ottawa Hospital Data Warehouse. All 12 patients identified had a LOS of greater than 4 months (range: 122-704 days) and a median age 83.5 years. Seven patients died in hospital, while 5 were transferred to long term or acute care facilities. All patients ultimately died without returning to independent living situations. The total cost of care for these 12 patients was $7 897 557.85 (mean: $658 129.82). There is a significant economic cost of providing resource-intensive critical care to patients in which these treatments are considered futile. Clinicians should carefully consider the allocation of finite critical care resources in order to utilize them in a way that most benefits patients.

Facilitating supportive care in cardiac intensive care units

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The number of patients who die in the hospital in the Western world is high, and 20-30% of them are admitted to an ICU in the last month of life, including those in cardiac ICUs (CICUs) where invasive procedures are performed and mortality is high. Palliative consultation is provided in only a few cases. The ethical and decisional aspects associated with the advanced stages of illness are very rarely discussed.

RECENT FINDINGS

The epidemiological and clinical landscape of CICUs has changed in the last decade; the incidence of acute coronary syndromes has decreased, whereas noncardiovascular diseases, comorbidities, the patients' age and clinical and therapeutic complexity have increased. The use of advanced and invasive treatments, such as mechanical ventilation, mechanical circulatory support and renal replacement therapies, has increased. This evolution increases the possibility of developing a life-threatening clinical event.

SUMMARY

This review aimed to analyze the main epidemiological, clinical, ethical and training aspects that can facilitate the introduction of supportive/palliative care programs in the CICU to improve symptom management during the advanced/terminal stages of illness, and address such issues as advance care planning, withdrawing/withholding life-sustaining treatments, deactivation of implantable defibrillators and palliative sedation.

Dying in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU): A Retrospective Descriptive Analysis of Deaths in the ICU in a Communal Tertiary Hospital in Germany

BACKGROUND

Modern intensive care methods led to an increased survival of critically ill patients over the last decades. But an unreflected application of modern intensive care measures might lead to prolonged treatment for incurable diseases, and an inadaequate or too aggressive therapy can prolong the dying process of patients. In this study, we analysed end-of-life decisions regarding withholding and withdrawal of intensive care measures in a German intensive care unit (ICU) of a communal tertiary hospital.

METHODS

Patient datasets of all adult patients dying in an ICU or an intermediate care unit (IMC) in a tertiary communal hospital (Klinikum Hanau, Germany) between 01.01.2011 and 31.12.2012 were analysed for withholding and withdrawal of intensive care measures.

RESULTS

During the two-year period, 1317 adult patients died in Klinikum Hanau. Of these, 489 (37%) died either in an ICU/IMC unit. The majority of those deceased patients (n = 427, 87%) was 60 years or older. In 306 (62%) of 489 patients, at least one life-sustaining measure was withheld or withdrawn. In 297 (61%) of 489 patients dying in ICU/IMC, any type of therapy was withheld, and in 139 patients (28%), any type of therapy was withdrawn. Mostly, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 427, 87%) was 60 years or older. In 306 (62%) of 489 patients, at least one life-sustaining measure was withheld or withdrawn. In 297 (61%) of 489 patients dying in ICU/IMC, any type of therapy was withheld, and in 139 patients (28%), any type of therapy was withdrawn. Mostly, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 427, 87%) was 60 years or older. In 306 (62%) of 489 patients, at least one life-sustaining measure was withheld or withdrawn. In 297 (61%) of 489 patients dying in ICU/IMC, any type of therapy was withheld, and in 139 patients (28%), any type of therapy was withdrawn. Mostly, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 427, 87%) was 60 years or older. In 306 (62%) of 489 patients, at least one life-sustaining measure was withheld or withdrawn. In 297 (61%) of 489 patients dying in ICU/IMC, any type of therapy was withheld, and in 139 patients (28%), any type of therapy was withdrawn. Mostly, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 427, 87%) was 60 years or older. In 306 (62%) of 489 patients, at least one life-sustaining measure was withheld or withdrawn. In 297 (61%) of 489 patients dying in ICU/IMC, any type of therapy was withheld, and in 139 patients (28%), any type of therapy was withdrawn. Mostly, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (n = 427, 87%) was 60 years or older. In 306 (62%) of 489 patients, at least one life-sustaining measure was withheld or withdrawn. In 297 (61%) of 489 patients dying in ICU/IMC, any type of therapy was withheld, and in 139 patients (28%), any type of therapy was withdrawn. Mostly, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (.

CONCLUSIONS

About one-third of patients dying in the hospital died in ICU/IMC. At least one life-sustaining therapy was limited/withdrawn in more than 60% of those patients. Withholding of a therapy was more common than active therapy withdrawal. Ventilation and renal replacement therapy were withdrawn in less than 5% of patients, respectively.