Patients' perception of implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation at the end of life

The difficult discussion on the deactivation of implantable cardioverter devices at the end of life: a systematic review

Implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) reliably prevent death due to life-threatening arrhythmias; this may become less relevant in people with more severe heart failure who are reaching the end of life (EOL). This review aimed to explore the ICD deactivation process and identify ethical issues, especially around the initiation of relevant discussions among professionals and patients. Available literature was reviewed using four electronic databases to identify issues that may deter healthcare professionals from having important deactivation discussions and to address considerations for ICD management prior to the EOL. The search resulted in the retainment of 12 studies. Three themes emerged from the data: barriers and facilitators, ethical considerations in clinical practice, and nurse's role. Lack of knowledge, which has been associated with cultural differences, has been found among the barriers, and interdisciplinary education and open communication appeared as facilitators. As clinicians' ethical considerations and fears emerged from the literature, nurses' special role has not been sufficiently supported. Complex care requires facilitation by multidisciplinary teams and education around the device's function regarding EOL issues. Establishing expert consensus statements on advance care planning might help define the distinct roles of each healthcare practitioner involved. Further research is needed in addressing the identified gaps.

Information provision and follow-up of French patients with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: The APODEC survey

BACKGROUND

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators reduce mortality, but the electric shocks delivered can impact the patient's quality of life. Patient education is an efficient way to reduce the stress related to both the device and the disease.

AIMS

We assessed the evolution of knowledge and satisfaction of implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients regarding their cardiac disease, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator implantation, follow-up complications, remote monitoring and daily life recommendations. Quality of life, implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-related stress levels and remote monitoring benefits were also evaluated.

METHODS

A self-administered questionnaire of 43 items was published on the French Association of Cardiac Electrical Device Wearers (APODEC) website and sent to registered patients.

RESULTS

Overall, 330 patients completed the survey. Physicians were the patients' principal information source regarding their cardiac disease (86.7%) and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (93.3%), and 90% looked for further information after the procedure, mainly on websites (78.8%). More than half of the patients were not sufficiently informed about implantable cardioverter-defibrillators before implantation (61.2%). In the patients' opinion, the best sources of further information were their physician (81.8%), patient associations (63.6%) and the Internet (45.8%). Although patient knowledge increased during follow-up, their knowledge could be improved regarding daily life with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (52.1%), remote monitoring (34.2%) and their cardiac disease (32.1%). Remote monitoring follow-up was used by 92.1% of patients and mostly improved their peace of mind (67.8%). Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shocks were associated with major stress for patients receiving them (46.6%).

CONCLUSION

These findings highlight the lack of information provided to implantable cardioverter-defibrillator recipients before implantation, a concerning issue to be addressed in the near future.

Culture, ethnicity, and socio-economic status as determinants of the management of patients with advanced heart failure who need palliative care: A clinical consensus statement from the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC, the ESC Patient Forum, and the European Association of Palliative Care

The delivery of effective healthcare entails the configuration and resourcing of health economies to address the burden of disease, including acute and chronic heart failure, that affects local populations. Increasing migration is leading to more multicultural and ethnically diverse societies worldwide, with migration research suggesting that minority populations are often subject to discrimination, socio-economic disadvantage, and inequity of access to optimal clinical support. Within these contexts, the provision of person-centred care requires medical and nursing staff to be aware of and become adept in navigating the nuances of cultural diversity, and how that can impact some individuals and families entrusted to their care. This paper will examine current evidence, provide practical guidance, and signpost professionals on developing cultural competence within the setting of patients with advanced heart failure who may benefit from palliative care.

Defibrillator exchange in the elderly

Background

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) therapy in elderly patients is controversial because survival benefits might be attenuated by nonarrhythmic causes of death.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to investigate the outcome of septuagenarians and octogenarians after ICD generator exchange (GE).

Methods

A total of 506 patients undergoing elective GE were analyzed to determine the incidence of ICD shocks and/or survival after GE. Patients were divided into a septuagenarian group (age 70-79 years) and an octogenarian group (age ≥80 years). The primary endpoint was death from any cause. Secondary endpoints were survival after appropriate ICD shock and death without experiencing ICD shocks after GE ("prior death").

Results

The association of the ICD with all-cause mortality and arrhythmic death was determined for septuagenarians and octogenarians. Comparing both groups, similar left ventricular ejection fraction (35.6% ± 11.2% vs 32.4% ± 8.9%) and baseline prevalence of New York Heart Association functional class III or IV heart failure (17.1% vs 14.7%) were found. During the entire follow-up period of the study, 42.5% of patients in the septuagenarian group died compared to 79% in the octogenarian group (P <.01). Prior death was significantly more frequent in both age groups than were appropriate ICD shocks. Predictors of mortality were common in both groups and included advanced heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, and renal failure.

Conclusion

In clinical practice, decision-making for ICD GE among the elderly should be considered carefully for individual patients.

Communication about Prognosis and End-of-Life in Heart Failure Care and Experiences Using a Heart Failure Question Prompt List

BACKGROUND

To further advance the use of a heart-failure-specific question prompt list (HF-QPL) for communication about prognosis and end-of-life care, knowledge about such communication and the perceptions and experiences of professionals is needed.

OBJECTIVES

1. to describe health care professionals' perceptions of communication about prognosis and end-of-life in heart failure (HF) care, and 2. to describe their experiences of using a HF-QPL.

DESIGN

A qualitative design that analyzed material from written assignments of nurses and physicians who were using a HF-QPL while participating in a communication course.

METHODS

Fifteen health care professionals from different regions in the south of Sweden were included. The data were collected from course assignments on 1. their reflection on the suitable timepoint for talking about prognosis for the first time, 2. their reflection on the HF-QPL, and 3. their experiences of using the HF-QPL in clinical practice. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Five overarching themes were identified. The first theme was awareness of professional role responsibilities that described the recognition of different responsibilities in these conversations within the HF team. The second theme described the importance of being optimally prepared, and the third that confidence and skills are required to use the HF-QPL. The fourth theme described the HF-QPL as a bridge in the communication between professionals, patients, and family members. The fifth theme identified challenges using the HF-QPL in HF care.

CONCLUSIONS

Using a HF-QPL in HF care has the potential to start conversation and facilitate discussion about the HF trajectory.

'You can't start a car when there's no petrol left': a qualitative study of patient, family and clinician perspectives on implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation

OBJECTIVE

To explore the attitudes towards implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) deactivation and initiation of deactivation discussions among patients, relatives and clinicians.

DESIGN

A multiphase qualitative study consisting of in situ hospital ICD clinic observations, and semistructured interviews of clinicians, patients and relatives. Data were analysed using a constant comparative approach.

SETTING

One tertiary and two district general hospitals in England.

PARTICIPANTS

We completed 38 observations of hospital consultations prior to ICD implantation, and 80 interviews with patients, family members and clinicians between 2013 and 2015. Patients were recruited from preimplantation to postdeactivation. Clinicians included cardiologists, cardiac physiologists, heart failure nurses and palliative care professionals.

RESULTS

Four key themes were identified from the data: the current status of deactivation discussions; patients' perceptions of deactivation; who should take responsibility for deactivation discussions and decisions; and timing of deactivation discussions. We found that although patients and doctors recognised the importance of advance care planning, including ICD deactivation at an early stage in the patient journey, this was often not reflected in practice. The most appropriate clinician to take the lead was thought to be dependent on the context, but could include any appropriately trained member of the healthcare team. It was suggested that deactivation should be raised preimplantation and regularly reviewed. Identification of trigger points postimplantation for deactivation discussions may help ensure that these are timely and inappropriate shocks are avoided.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a need for early, ongoing and evolving discussion between ICD recipients and clinicians regarding the eventual need for ICD deactivation. The most appropriate clinician to instigate deactivation discussions is likely to vary between patients and models of care. Reminders at key trigger points, and routine discussion of deactivation at implantation and during advance care planning could prevent distressing experiences for both the patient and their family at the end of life.

'Life with a device': the octogenarians' experiences with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator-a qualitative study

AIMS

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) treatment has expanded due to its effectiveness. However, there are concerns about complications, and use in the most elderly has been questioned. There is scarce data on qualitative aspects regarding experiences of living with an ICD among patients above the age of 80 years. The aim of this study was to explore octogenarians' experience, knowledge, and attitude of living with an ICD.

METHOD AND RESULTS

We used semi-structured interviews to collect data from 20 patients, aged 80-89 years (90% men). The data were then structured and analysed through deductive thematic analysis network approach using the ATLAS.ti v.8.4 software. The framework of the analysis was based on the Successful Aging Theory. Three main themes emerged regarding the patients' experiences: Life goes on; Their Health, The Janus-Faced Device; Their attitudes, and Mind the gap; Their knowledge. None of the octogenarians regretted receiving their ICD, instead, they presented with feelings such as gratitude towards the device. However, a lack of knowledge about the devices was expressed, which can be a risk for potential complications, in turn causing suffering and unnecessary concerns.

CONCLUSION

Overall, the ICD did not pose a threat towards successful ageing. It was mainly considered a life-saving device. However, the lack of knowledge might hinder informed choices close to death and contribute to ethical dilemmas when deactivation of the ICD is a reasonable option.

Optimizing of a question prompt list to improve communication about the heart failure trajectory in patients, families, and health care professionals

Background

The aim of this study was to optimize a Question Prompt List which is designed to improve communication about the heart failure trajectory among patients, family members, and health care professionals.

Methods

Data were collected in a two-round Delphi survey and a cross-sectional survey, including patients with heart failure, their family members, and health care professionals working in heart failure care in Sweden and the Netherlands. Acceptability for and demand of the Question Prompt List were assessed.

Results

A total of 96 patients, 63 family members and 26 health care professionals participated in the study. Regarding acceptability, most of the original questions were found to be relevant by the participants for inclusion in the Question Prompt List but some cultural differences exist, which resulted in two versions of the list: a Swedish version including 33 questions and a Dutch version including 38 questions. Concerning demand, participants reported that they were interested in discussing the questions in the revised Question Prompt List with a physician or a nurse. Few patients and family members reported that they were worried by the questions in the Question Prompt List and hence did not want to discuss the questions.

Conclusions

This Question Prompt List has successfully been adapted into a Swedish version and a Dutch version and includes questions about the HF trajectory which patients, their families, and health care professionals perceived to be relevant for discussion in clinical practice. Overall, patients and family members were not worried about the content in the Question Prompt List and if used in accordance with patients’ and family members’ preferences, the Question Prompt List can help to improve communication about the heart failure trajectory.

Patient and Professional Factors That Impact the Perceived Likelihood and Confidence of Healthcare Professionals to Discuss Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Deactivation in Advanced Heart Failure: Results From an International Factorial Survey

Supplemental digital content is available in the text.

Background:

Rate of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantations is increasing in patients with advanced heart failure. Despite clear guideline recommendations, discussions addressing deactivation occur infrequently.

Aim:

The aim of this article is to explore patient and professional factors that impact perceived likelihood and confidence of healthcare professionals to discuss ICD deactivation.

Methods and Results:

Between 2015 and 2016, an international sample of 262 healthcare professionals (65% nursing, 24% medical) completed an online factorial survey, encompassing a demographic questionnaire and clinical vignettes. Each vignette had 9 randomly manipulated and embedded patient-related factors, considered as independent variables, providing 1572 unique vignettes for analysis. These factors were determined through synthesis of a systematic literature review, a retrospective case note review, and a qualitative exploratory study. Results showed that most healthcare professionals agreed that deactivation discussions should be initiated by a cardiologist (95%, n = 255) or a specialist nurse (81%, n = 215). In terms of experience, 84% of cardiologists (n = 53) but only 30% of nurses (n = 50) had previously been involved in a deactivation decision. Healthcare professionals valued patient involvement in deactivation decisions; however, only 50% (n = 130) actively involved family members. Five of 9 clinical factors were associated with an increased likelihood to discuss deactivation including advanced age, severe heart failure, presence of malignancy, receipt of multiple ICD shocks, and more than 3 hospital admissions during the previous year. Furthermore, nationality and discipline significantly influenced likelihood and confidence in decision making.

Conclusions:

Guidelines recommend that healthcare professionals discuss ICD deactivation; however, practice is suboptimal with multifactorial factors impacting on decision making. The role and responsibility of nurses in discussing deactivation require clarity and improvement.

Deactivating a Pacemaker in Home Care Hospice: Experiences of the Family Caregivers of a Terminally Ill Patient

Objectives:

Although the experiences of family members who care for relatives at the end of life have been researched extensively, little is known about the needs and experiences of families caring for hospice patients with pacemakers.

Aim:

To better understand the experiences of family caregivers of a terminally ill patient who received hospice care at home and chose deactivation of a pacemaker.

Design:

The exploratory, cross-sectional design involved semistructured, in-depth interviews. A narrative analysis focusing on form and content was chosen to analyze the data.

Participants:

Five bereaved caregivers from the Midwestern United States who provided care and participated in the deactivation of their family member’s pacemaker.

Results:

Four storylines that described, gave meaning to, and contextualized the caregivers’ experiences were identified: “I am done. I am not doing it anymore”; “Whatever you decide, I’ll support you”; “It is really difficult to watch, but you want to be there”; and “I will not have part of this.” Caregivers struggled with lack of support, understanding, and acceptance from medical providers when their family member decided to have her pacemaker deactivated, and they believed that the hospice model of care was appropriate to support and help them in that process.

Conclusions:

This research aids in understanding the ramifications of family-provided end-of-life care to a patient whose pacemaker has been deactivated. This can help to increase hospice clinicians’ knowledge regarding caregivers’ experiences facing deactivation of a pacemaker, before and after the patient’s death.

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge and end-of-life device deactivation: A cross-sectional survey

BACKGROUND

End-of-life implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation discussions should commence before device implantation and be ongoing, yet many implantable cardioverter defibrillators remain active in patients' last days.

AIM

To examine associations among implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge, patient characteristics and attitudes to implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional survey using the Experiences, Attitudes and Knowledge of End-of-Life Issues in Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Patients Questionnaire. Participants were classified as insufficient or sufficient implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge and the two groups were compared.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients ( n = 270, mean age 61 ± 14 years; 73% male) were recruited from cardiology and implantable cardioverter defibrillator clinics attached to two tertiary hospitals in Melbourne, Australia, and two in Kentucky, the United States.

RESULTS

Participants with insufficient implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge ( n = 77, 29%) were significantly older (mean age 66 vs 60 years, p = 0.001), less likely to be Caucasian (77% vs 87%, p  = 0.047), less likely to have received implantable cardioverter defibrillator shocks (26% vs 40%, p = 0.031), and more likely to have indications of mild cognitive impairment (Montreal Cognitive Assessment score <24: 44% vs 16%, p < 0.001). Insufficient implantable cardioverter defibrillator knowledge was associated with attitudes suggesting unwillingness to discuss implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation, even during the last days towards end of life ( p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Implantable cardioverter defibrillator recipients, especially those who are older or have mild cognitive impairment, often have limited knowledge about implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation. This study identified several potential teachable moments throughout the patients' treatment trajectory. An interdisciplinary approach is required to ensure that discussions about implantable cardioverter defibrillator deactivation issues are initiated at appropriate time points, with family members ideally also included.

Palliative Care in Heart Failure: What Triggers Specialist Consultation?

Heart failure (HF) continues to cause substantial death and suffering despite the availability of numerous medical, surgical, and technological therapeutic advancements. As a patient-centered holistic discipline focused on improving quality of life and decreasing anguish, palliative care (PC) has a crucial role in the care of HF patients that has been acknowledged by multiple international guidelines. PC can be provided by all members of the HF care team, including but not limited to practitioners with specialty PC training. Unfortunately, despite recommendations to routinely include PC techniques and providers in the care of HF patients, use of general PC strategies as well as expert PC consultation is limited by a dearth of evidence-based interventions in the HF population and knowledge as to when to initiate these interventions, uncertainty regarding patient desires, prognosis, and the respective roles of each member of the care team, and a general shortage of specialist PC providers. This review seeks to provide guidance as to when to employ the limited resource of specialist PC practitioners, in combination with services from other members of the care team, to best tend to HF patients as their disease progresses and eventually overcomes.

Hospice in heart failure: why, when, and what then?

Hospice is a model of care for patients nearing the end of their lives that emphasizes symptom management, quality of life (QOL), and support of the patient and caregiving family through the death of the patient and the family's bereavement. It is associated with high patient and caregiver satisfaction and appears to not shorten lifespan for appropriately referred patients. Patients with advanced heart failure are being referred to hospice care more often than in the past, but the majority of deaths occur without this benefit. Hospice care in the USA is defined by the Medicare Hospice Benefit and associated regulations. Hospice is appropriate for patients with an expected survival prognosis of 6 months or less, and multiple predictive factors and tools are available to assist in prognostication. Management of symptoms and specific drug therapy options are discussed. For many patients, deactivation of electronic cardiac devices is appropriate when the goals of care are comfort and QOL. Ongoing collaboration of the referring physician with the hospice agency and staff offers opportunities for seamless and quality care.

Perceived Benefits of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Implantation among Heart Failure Patients and Its Relation to Quality of Life: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction

Patients with heart failure (HF) and implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) may misunderstand the indication of ICDs due to unsatisfactory information. The goal of this study is to evaluate the patient perspective of ICD indication and its relation to quality of life, as well as to identify probable communication gaps between doctors and ICD receivers.

Methods

A total of 119 patients with HF who were implanted with a single-chamber ICD were evaluated in outpatient clinics. Patients with cardiac resynchronization therapy-defibrillators were not included in the study. In a questionnaire, patients were asked about the indication of the ICD procedure and classified according to the perceived benefits.

Results

This study showed that most of the patients (n = 92, 77.3%) believed that ICD was implanted for improvement of heart dysfunction or for symptom relief. According to the perceived benefit groups, physical function, general health, vitality, and role physical scores were significantly lower in the symptom relief group (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Patients with HF and ICD mostly believed that the cardioverter defibrillator implanted for improving heart function or symptom relief. Doctors play a significant role when a patient is first referred for ICD because less-informed patients are more prone to misunderstand the procedure’s benefits. Moreover, unfulfilled expectations may lead to loss of confidence in applied therapies and result in poor health outcomes.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s40119-015-0049-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Palliative Care Consultation and Associated End-of-Life Care After Pacemaker or Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Deactivation

The presence of cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators complicates making end-of-life (EOL) medical decisions. Palliative care/medicine consultation (PCMC) may benefit patients and primary providers, but data are lacking. We retrospectively reviewed 150 charts of patients who underwent device deactivation at our tertiary care center (between November 1, 2008, and September 1, 2012), assessing for PCMC and outcomes. Overall, 42% of patients received a PCMC, and 68% of those PCMCs specifically addressed device deactivation. Median survival following deactivation was 2 days, with 42% of deaths occurring within 1 day of deactivation. There was no difference in survival between the groups. The EOL care for patients with implanted cardiac devices is complex, but PCMC may assist with symptom management and clarification of goals of care for such patients.