Palliation in heart failure: When less and more are more

Do-not-resuscitate orders and palliative care in patients who die in cardiology departments. What can be improved?

The use of do-not-resuscitate orders and palliative care was studied in 198 consecutive deaths of patients with heart disease that occurred in our department. In 113 (57%), it was decided not to resuscitate. The decision took into account the patient's medical history in 102 patients (90.3%) and departmental medical charts in 74 (65.5%). In total, 5 patients (4.4%) and 95 patients' families (84.1%) were informed. Little palliative treatment was used in patients with do-not-resuscitate orders: 56 (49.6%) received morphine and 5 (4.4%), spiritual support. However, prior to issuing the do-not-resuscitate order, these patients frequently received aggressive and expensive treatment such as orotracheal intubation in 49 (43.4%), coronary angiography in 27 (23.9%), inotropic drugs in 55 (48.7%) and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation in 15 (13.3%). In conclusion, almost three-fifths of patients who died in a cardiology department had a do-not-resuscitate order. The decision to issue the order was frequently taken after administering aggressive treatment and little palliative care was provided afterward.

Short-term mortality and cost associated with cardiac device implantation in patients hospitalized with heart failure

BACKGROUND

The use of implantable cardiac devices in the management of heart failure has increased, but patient selection and inhospital outcomes in clinical practice have not been critically explored. Therefore, we evaluated the inhospital mortality and costs associated with patients with heart failure who received an implantable cardioverter defibrillator, cardiac resynchronization device, or device lead.

METHODS

We analyzed admissions with International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, procedure codes for implantation/revision of cardioverter defibrillator or cardiac resynchronization device and a primary or secondary diagnosis code for heart failure in a prospective hospital database from 2004 to 2005. Odds ratios were calculated to quantify risk for mortality. Average accumulated costs over time were calculated before and after day of first device implant procedure.

RESULTS

Among 27,907 hospitalizations, inhospital mortality varied based on day of device implantation and use of intravenous inotropic therapy. Mortality was 0.3% for patients who did not require inotropic drugs versus 3.3%, 6.6%, and 15.2% for patients who required initiation of drug before, on the day of, or after device implantation, respectively. Logistic regression demonstrated that the most potent risk for inhospital mortality was the use of inotropic drugs. Similar trends were observed for any vasoactive therapy. There was a marked increase in costs associated with these admissions.

CONCLUSIONS

Implantation of cardiac devices during a hospitalization for heart failure may be associated with significant inhospital mortality if patients require intravenous vasoactive therapy. Risk stratification methodology that incorporates ongoing/anticipated need for these drugs will likely improve clinical decision making.

Palliative care and hospice in advanced heart failure

This paper provides an evidence-based review of the principles underlying palliative care for heart failure (HF), including its pathogenesis, staging, assessment, prognosis, and treatment. Approaches to advanced care planning, symptom management, hospice eligibility, home inotropic infusions, device management and improving the continuum of care in HF are discussed. The reader will be able to recognize advanced HF, use important elements of physical assessment, utilize Web-based prognostic and risk-stratification models, facilitate advance care planning, ensure optimal treatment, manage common symptoms and comorbid conditions, determine hospice eligibility, and consider issues related to withholding or withdrawal of inotropic infusions and devices used in HF refractory to standard treatment. The ultimate goal of palliative care for heart failure is to integrate knowledge of treatment advances and comfort measures and to provide them concurrently in a seamless continuum to patients with late-stage disease.