Exploring the Relationship between Shared Decision-Making, Patient-Centered Medicine, and Evidence-Based Medicine.

Shared decision-making is a possible link between the best of patient-centered medicine and evidence-based medicine. This article seeks to describe the link between them. It discusses to what extent the integration of such perspectives is successful in assuring respect for the patient's autonomy. From the evidence herein, we conclude that if the doctor-patient relationship and communication are strengthened to cover all issues relevant to the patient's health and values, is it possible for him or her to achieve more autonomous decisions by this linkage of shared decision-making and patient-centered medicine? SUMMARY: Shared decision-making is a possible link between the best of patient-centered medicine and evidence-based medicine. This article seeks to describe the link between them.

Oncologists' and Intensivists' Attitudes Toward the Care of Critically Ill Patients with Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Patients with cancer represent an important proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. Oncologists and intensivists have distinct knowledge backgrounds, and conflicts about the appropriate management of these patients may emerge. METHODS: We surveyed oncologists and intensivists at 2 academic cancer centers regarding their management of 2 hypothetical patients with different cancer types (metastatic pancreatic cancer and metastatic breast cancer with positive receptors for estrogen, progesterone, and HER-2) who develop septic shock and multiple organ failure. RESULTS: Sixty intensivists and 46 oncologists responded to the survey. Oncologists and intensivists similarly favored withdrawal of life support measures for the patient with pancreatic cancer (33/46 [72%] vs 48/60 [80%], P = .45). On the other hand, intensivists favored more withdrawal of life support measures for the patient with breast cancer compared to oncologists (32/59 [54%] vs 9/44 [21%], P < .001). In the multinomial logistic regression, the oncology specialists were more likely to advocate for a full-code status for the patient with breast cancer (OR = 5.931; CI 95%, 1.762-19.956; P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Oncologists and intensivists share different views regarding life support measures in critically ill patients with cancer. Oncologists tend to focus on the cancer characteristics, whereas intensivists focus on multiple organ failure when weighing in on the same decisions. Regular meetings between oncologists and intensivists may reduce possible conflicts regarding the critical care of patients with cancer.

A bioethical framework to guide the decision-making process in the care of seriously ill patients.

BACKGROUND: One of the biggest challenges of practicing medicine in the age of informational technology is how to conciliate the overwhelming amount of medical-scientific information with the multiple patients' values of modern pluralistic societies. To organize and optimize the the Decision-Making Process (DMP) of seriously ill patient care, we present a framework to be used by Healthcare Providers. The objective is to align Bioethics, Evidence-based Practice and Person-centered Care. MAIN BODY: The framework divides the DMP into four steps, each with a different but complementary focus, goal and ethical principle. Step 1 focuses exclusively on the disease, having accuracy is its ethical principle. It aims at an accurate and probabilistic estimation of prognosis, absolute risk reduction, relative risk reduction and treatments' burdens. Step 2 focuses on the person, using empathic communication to learn about patient values and what suffering means for the patient. Emphasis is given to learning and active listening, not taking action. Thus, instead beneficence, we trust comprehension and understanding with the suffering of others and respect for others as autonomous moral agents as the ethical principles of Step 2. Step 3 focuses on the healthcare team, having the ethics of situational awareness guiding this step. The goal is, through effective teamwork, to contextualize and link rates and probabilities related to the disease to the learned patient's values, presenting a summary of which treatments the team considers as acceptable, recommended, potentially inappropriate and futile. Finally, Step 4 focuses on provider-patient relationship, seeking shared Goals of Care (GOC), for the best and worst scenario. Through an ethics of deliberation, it aims for a consensus that could ensure that the patient's values will be respected as well as a scientifically acceptable medical practice will be provided. In summary: accuracy, comprehension, understanding, situational awareness and deliberation would be the ethical principles guiding each step. CONCLUSION: Hopefully, by highlighting and naming the different perspectives of knowledge needed in clinical practice, this framework will be valuable as a practical and educational tool, guiding modern medical professionals through the many challenges of providing high quality person-centered care that is both ethical and evidence based.

Development of an algorithm to aid triage decisions for intensive care unit admission: a clinical vignette and retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Intensive care unit (ICU) admission triage is performed routinely and is often based solely on clinical judgment, which could mask biases. A computerized algorithm to aid ICU triage decisions was developed to classify patients into the Society of Critical Care Medicine's prioritization system. In this study, we sought to evaluate the reliability and validity of this algorithm. METHODS: Nine senior physicians evaluated forty clinical vignettes based on real patients. The reference standard was defined as the priorities ascribed by two investigators with full access to patients' records. Agreement of algorithm-based priorities with the reference standard and with intuitive priorities provided by the physicians were evaluated. Correlations between algorithm prioritization and physicians' judgment of the appropriateness of ICU admissions in scarcity and nonscarcity settings were also evaluated. Validity was further assessed by retrospectively applying this algorithm to 603 patients with requests for ICU admission for association with clinical outcomes. RESULTS: Agreement between algorithm-based priorities and the reference standard was substantial, with a median κ of 0.72 (interquartile range [IQR] 0.52-0.77). Algorithm-based priorities demonstrated higher interrater reliability (overall κ 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.57-0.65; median percentage agreement 0.64, IQR 0.59-0.70) than physicians' intuitive prioritization (overall κ 0.51, 95% CI 0.47-0.55; median percentage agreement 0.49, IQR 0.44-0.56) (p = 0.001). Algorithm-based priorities were also associated with physicians' judgment of appropriateness of ICU admission (priorities 1, 2, 3, and 4 vignettes would be admitted to the last ICU bed in 83.7%, 61.2%, 45.2%, and 16.8% of the scenarios, respectively; p < 0.001) and with actual ICU admission, palliative care consultation, and hospital mortality in the retrospective cohort. CONCLUSIONS: This ICU admission triage algorithm demonstrated good reliability and validity. However, more studies are needed to evaluate a difference in benefit of ICU admission justifying the admission of one priority stratum over the others.

The Hierarchy of Communication Needs: A Novel Communication Strategy for High Mistrust Settings Developed in a Brazilian COVID-ICU.

Context: The COVID-19 pandemic presented unique challenges for health care systems. Overcrowded units, extreme illness severity, uncertain prognoses, and mistrust in providers resulted in a "pressure cooker" where traditional communication strategies were often insufficient. Objectives: Building on well-studied traditional communication interventions, neurobiology principles were used to create a novel communication strategy designed in the COVID-ICU to respond to the unique communication needs of patients within the context of a high mistrust setting. Methods: The hierarchy of communication needs recognizes three specific levels of communication that are essential within high-emotion and low-trust settings. The first level is to establish trust. The second level is to resonate with patients' emotions, helping to reduce arousal and improve empathy. The third level includes the more traditional content of disclosing prognostic information and shared decision-making. When facing communication challenges, clinicians are taught to move back a level and reattune to emotions and/or reestablish trust. Discussion: The COVID pandemic revealed the shortcomings of a primarily cognitive communication style. The hierarchy of communication needs emphasizes trust building, and emotional resonance as prerequisites of effective cognitive discussions, resulting in more effective clinician-patient communication that more fully incorporates cultural humility and better meets the needs of diverse patient populations. Additional research is needed to further develop this strategy and evaluate its impact on patient experience and outcomes.

Eleven years impact of a stepwise educational program on healthcare associated infections and antibiotics consumption in an intensive care unit of a tertiary hospital in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: Hospital acquired infections (HAI) and liberal use of broad-spectrum antibiotics are common in intensive care unit(ICU)s of low-middle income countries. We investigated the long-term association of a stepwise multifaceted educational program with the incidence of HAIs and antibiotics use in a Brazilian ICU. We also evaluated the program's cost impact. METHODS: We retrieved data from a prospective daily collected database of a twelve bedrooms ICU, all admitted patients within a period of eleven years were enrolled. FINDINGS: From 03/15/2007 to 09/11/2019, we admitted 3059 patients where 2406 (79%) survived the ICU stay. Median age was 51 years-old, and median SAPS3 was 53. The initial density of catheter related blood infection (4.3 events / 1000 patients-day), urinary tract infection (9.2 event / 1000 patients-day) and ventilator associated pneumonia (54.9 events / 1000 patients-day) felt during the observed period to (0.35 events / 1000 patients-day), (0 events / 1000 patients-day), and (1.5 events / 1000 patients-day) respectively. The days of antibiotic therapy also decreased from 797.9 days of therapy / 1000 patients day to 292.3 days of therapy / 1000 patients day. The total cost per patient also decreased. The adjusted mortality rate was steady during the studied period from 23.2% to 22.9%. INTERPRETATION: A stepwise multifaceted educational program is an effective way to reduce hospital-associated infections, improve the rational use of antibiotics, and reduce costs. This impact occurred in a long term, and is probably consistent.

Limiting life-sustaining treatment for very old ICU patients: cultural challenges and diverse practices.

BACKGROUND: Decisions about life-sustaining therapy (LST) in the intensive care unit (ICU) depend on predictions of survival as well as the expected functional capacity and self-perceived quality of life after discharge, especially in very old patients. However, prognostication for individual patients in this cohort is hampered by substantial uncertainty which can lead to a large variability of opinions and, eventually, decisions about LST. Moreover, decision-making processes are often embedded in a framework of ethical and legal recommendations which may vary between countries resulting in divergent management strategies. METHODS: Based on a vignette scenario of a multi-morbid 87-year-old patient, this article illustrates the spectrum of opinions about LST among intensivsts with a special interest in very old patients, from ten countries/regions, representing diverse cultures and healthcare systems. RESULTS: This survey of expert opinions and national recommendations demonstrates shared principles in the management of very old ICU patients. Some guidelines also acknowledge cultural differences between population groups. Although consensus with families should be sought, shared decision-making is not formally required or practised in all countries. CONCLUSIONS: This article shows similarities and differences in the decision-making for LST in very old ICU patients and recommends strategies to deal with prognostic uncertainty. Conflicts should be anticipated in situations where stakeholders have different cultural beliefs. There is a need for more collaborative research and training in this field.

Palliative care and neurology: a path to neuropalliativism.

This article aims to expand the understanding of how it is possible to alleviate suffering and enable a dignified life trajectory for patients with progressive neurological diseases or with severe and permanent neurological impairment. The four most common disease trajectories described for people with chronic and progressive disease used to advance care planning, Brazilian normative ethical resolutions, evidence-based benefits of palliative care (PC), as well as particularities of PC in neurology, such as neurological symptom control, caring for existential and psychological suffering, care provider's needs and particularities of pediatric neurologic PC are reviewed.

Exploring the association of two oxygenators in parallel or in series during respiratory support using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. / Investigação da associação de dois oxigenadores em paralelo ou em série durante o suporte respiratório com oxigenação por membrana extracorpórea.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the pressures, resistances, oxygenation, and decarboxylation efficacy of two oxygenators associated in series or in parallel during venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support. METHODS: Using the results of a swine severe respiratory failure associated with multiple organ dysfunction venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support model and mathematical modeling, we explored the effects on oxygenation, decarboxylation and circuit pressures of in-parallel and in-series associations of oxygenators. RESULTS: Five animals with a median weight of 80kg were tested. Both configurations increased the oxygen partial pressure after the oxygenators. The return cannula oxygen content was also slightly higher, but the impact on systemic oxygenation was minimal using oxygenators with a high rated flow (~ 7L/minute). Both configurations significantly reduced the systemic carbon dioxide partial pressure. As the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation blood flow increased, the oxygenator resistance decreased initially with a further increase with higher blood flows but with a small clinical impact. CONCLUSION: Association of oxygenators in parallel or in series during venous-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support provides a modest increase in carbon dioxide partial pressure removal with a slight improvement in oxygenation. The effect of oxygenator associations on extracorporeal circuit pressures is minimal.

OBJETIVO: Caracterizar as pressões, as resistências, a oxigenação e a eficácia da descarboxilação de dois oxigenadores associados em série ou em paralelo durante o suporte com oxigenação veno-venosa por membrana extracorpórea. MÉTODOS: Usando os resultados de insuficiência respiratória grave em suínos associada à disfunção de múltiplos órgãos, ao modelo de suporte com oxigenação por membrana extracorpórea veno-venosa e à modelagem matemática, exploramos os efeitos na oxigenação, descarboxilação e pressões do circuito de associações de oxigenadores em paralelo e em série. RESULTADOS: Testaram-se cinco animais com peso mediano de 80kg. Ambas as configurações aumentaram a pressão parcial de oxigênio após os oxigenadores. O teor de oxigênio da cânula de retorno também foi ligeiramente maior, mas o efeito na oxigenação sistêmica foi mínimo, usando oxigenadores com alto fluxo nominal (~ 7L/minuto). Ambas as configurações reduziram significativamente a pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono sistêmico. Como o fluxo sanguíneo na oxigenação por membrana extracorpórea aumentou, a resistência do oxigenador diminuiu inicialmente, com aumento posterior, com fluxos sanguíneos mais altos, mas pouco efeito clínico. CONCLUSÃO: A associação de oxigenadores em paralelo ou em série durante o suporte com oxigenação veno-venosa por membrana extracorpórea proporciona um modesto aumento na depuração da pressão parcial de dióxido de carbono, com leve melhora na oxigenação. O efeito das associações de oxigenadores nas pressões de circuitos extracorpóreos é mínimo.

Accountability for reasonableness and criteria for admission, triage and discharge in intensive care units: an analysis of current ethical recommendations. / Responsabilidade pela razoabilidade e critérios de admissão, triagem e alta em unidades de terapia intensiva: uma análise das recomendações éticas atuais.

Triage for intensive care unit admission is a frequent event and is associated to worse clinical outcomes. The process of triage is variable and may be influenced by biases and prejudices, which could lead to potentially unfair decisions. The Brazilian Federal Council of Medicine (Conselho Federal de Medicina) has recently released a guideline for intensive care unit admission and discharge. The aim of this paper is to evaluate the ethical dilemmas related to the implementation of this guideline, through the accountability for reasonabless approach, known as A4R, as elaborated by Norman Daniels. We conclude that the guideline contemplates A4R conditions, but we observe that there is a need for indication of A4R-concordant criteria to operationalize the guidelines.

Triagem para admissão em unidades de terapia intensiva é um evento frequente, especialmente em situações de escassez de recursos, e está associada a piores desfechos clínicos. O processo de triagem é variável e pode ser guiado por vieses e preconceitos, levando à tomada de decisão potencialmente injusta. O Conselho Federal de Medicina elaborou recentemente uma resolução com os critérios de admissão e alta em unidades de terapia intensiva. O objetivo deste artigo é avaliar os dilemas éticos associados à implementação dessa resolução, tendo como prisma a abordagem do accountability for reasonableness ("responsabilização pela razoabilidade"), conhecido como A4R, conforme parâmetros elaborados por Norman Daniels. Apesar de a resolução em si contemplar as condições do A4R, ainda há espaço para que a norma indique critérios para que a operacionalização da resolução também contemple esses parâmetros.

Impact of nonclinical factors on intensive care unit admission decisions: a vignette-based randomized trial (V-TRIAGE). / Impacto de fatores não clínicos nas decisões relacionadas à admissão em unidade de terapia intensiva: um ensaio randomizado com base em vinhetas (V-TRIAGE).

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of intensive care unit bed availability, distractors and choice framing on intensive care unit admission decisions. METHODS: This study was a randomized factorial trial using patient-based vignettes. The vignettes were deemed archetypical for intensive care unit admission or refusal, as judged by a group of experts. Intensive care unit physicians were randomized to 1) an increased distraction (intervention) or a control group, 2) an intensive care unit bed scarcity or nonscarcity (availability) setting, and 3) a multiple-choice or omission (status quo) vignette scenario. The primary outcome was the proportion of appropriate intensive care unit allocations, defined as concordance with the allocation decision made by the group of experts. RESULTS: We analyzed 125 physicians. Overall, distractors had no impact on the outcome; however, there was a differential drop-out rate, with fewer physicians in the intervention arm completing the questionnaire. Intensive care unit bed availability was associated with an inappropriate allocation of vignettes deemed inappropriate for intensive care unit admission (OR = 2.47; 95%CI 1.19 - 5.11) but not of vignettes appropriate for intensive care unit admission. There was a significant interaction with the presence of distractors (p = 0.007), with intensive care unit bed availability being associated with increased intensive care unit admission of vignettes inappropriate for intensive care unit admission in the distractor (intervention) arm (OR = 9.82; 95%CI 2.68 - 25.93) but not in the control group (OR = 1.02; 95%CI 0.38 - 2.72). Multiple choices were associated with increased inappropriate allocation in comparison to the omission group (OR = 5.18; 95%CI 1.37 - 19.61). CONCLUSION: Intensive care unit bed availability and cognitive biases were associated with inappropriate intensive care unit allocation decisions. These findings may have implications for intensive care unit admission policies.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar o impacto da disponibilidade de leitos em unidade de terapia intensiva, distratores e formatação da escolha, nas decisões de admissão na unidade de terapia intensiva. MÉTODOS: Este estudo foi um ensaio randomizado fatorial, com utilização de vinhetas baseadas em pacientes. As vinhetas foram consideradas arquetípicas para admissão ou recusa de admissão na unidade de terapia intensiva, conforme julgado por um grupo de especialistas. Médicos de unidade de terapia intensiva foram randomizados para um grupo com distrações (intervenção) ou um grupo controle; a um ambiente de escassez ou de disponibilidade de leitos em unidade de terapia intensiva (disponibilidade) e a uma vinheta com cenário de múltipla escolha ou omissão (status quo). O desfecho primário foi a proporção de alocações adequadas à unidade de terapia intensiva, definida como concordância com as decisões de alocação acordadas pelo grupo de especialistas. RESULTADOS: Analisamos 125 médicos. Em termos gerais, os distratores não tiveram impacto sobre o desfecho; contudo, houve taxa diferenciada de desistências, com menos médicos no grupo intervenção tendo respondido completamente ao questionário. A disponibilidade de leitos em unidade de terapia intensiva se associou com alocações inadequadas de vinhetas consideradas não adequadas para admissão na unidade de terapia intensiva (RC = 2,47; IC95% 1,19 - 5,11), porém não com vinhetas apropriadas para admissão na unidade de terapia intensiva. Ocorreu interação significante com a presença de distratores (p = 0,007), sendo a disponibilidade de leitos na unidade de terapia intensiva associada com maior admissão na unidade de terapia intensiva de vinhetas não apropriadas para admissão na unidade de terapia intensiva no braço com distratores (intervenção) (RC = 9,82; IC95% 2,68 - 25,93), porém não no grupo controle (RC = 5,18; IC95% 1,37 - 19,61). CONCLUSÃO: A disponibilidade de leitos em unidade de terapia intensiva e vieses cognitivos se associaram com decisões inadequadas de alocação à unidade de terapia intensiva. Esses achados podem ter implicações para políticas de admissão na unidade de terapia intensiva.

Prognostication in urgent intensive care unit referrals: a cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: Prognostication is an essential ability to clinicians. Nevertheless, it has been shown to be quite variable in acutely ill patients, potentially leading to inappropriate care. We aimed to assess the accuracy of physician's prediction of hospital mortality in acutely deteriorating patients referred for urgent intensive care unit (ICU) admission. METHODS: Prospective cohort of acutely ill patients referred for urgent ICU admission in an academic, tertiary hospital. Physicians' prognosis assessments were recorded at ICU referral. Prognosis was assessed as survival without severe disabilities, survival with severe disabilities or no survival. Prognosis was further dichotomised in good prognosis (survival without severe disabilities) or poor prognosis (survival with severe disabilities or no survival) for prediction of hospital mortality. RESULTS: There were 2374 analysed referrals, with 2103 (88.6%) patients with complete data on mortality and physicians' prognosis. There were 593 (34.4%), 215 (66.4%) and 51 (94.4%) deaths in the groups ascribed a prognosis of survival without disabilities, survival with severe disabilities or no survival, respectively (p<0.001). Sensitivity was 31%, specificity was 91% and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.61 for prediction of mortality. After multivariable analysis, severity of illness, performance status and ICU admission were associated with an increased likelihood of incorrect classification, while worse predicted prognosis was associated with a lower chance of incorrect classification. CONCLUSIONS: Physician's prediction was associated with hospital mortality, but overall accuracy was poor, mainly due to low sensitivity to detect risk of poor prognosis.

Mechanical ventilation withdrawal as a palliative procedure in a Brazilian intensive care unit. / Retirada da ventilação mecânica como procedimento paliativo em uma unidade de terapia intensiva brasileira.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and outcomes of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation withdrawal and to compare them to mechanically ventilated patients with limitations (withhold or withdrawal) of life-sustaining therapies but who did not undergo mechanical ventilation withdrawal. METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study from January 2014 to December 2018 of mechanically ventilated patients with any organ support limitation admitted to a single intensive care unit. We compared patients who underwent mechanical ventilation withdrawal and those who did not regarding intensive care unit and hospital mortality and length of stay in both an unadjusted analysis and a propensity score matched subsample. We also analyzed the time from mechanical ventilation withdrawal to death. RESULTS: Out of 282 patients with life-sustaining therapy limitations, 31 (11%) underwent mechanical ventilation withdrawal. There was no baseline difference between groups. Intensive care unit and hospital mortality rates were 71% versus 57% and 93% versus 80%, respectively, among patients who underwent mechanical ventilation withdrawal and those who did not. The median intensive care unit length of stay was 7 versus 8 days (p = 0.6), and the hospital length of stay was 9 versus 15 days (p = 0.015). Hospital mortality was not significantly different (25/31; 81% versus 29/31; 93%; p = 0.26) after matching. The median time from mechanical ventilation withdrawal until death was 2 days [0 - 5], and 10/31 (32%) patients died within 24 hours after mechanical ventilation withdrawal. CONCLUSION: In this Brazilian report, mechanical ventilation withdrawal represented 11% of all patients with treatment limitations and was not associated with increased hospital mortality after propensity score matching on relevant covariates.

OBJETIVO: Descrever as características e os desfechos de pacientes submetidos à retirada da ventilação mecânica e comparar a pacientes com ventilação mecânica e limitações de terapias de suporte à vida (limitar ou retirar), porém sem remoção da ventilação mecânica. MÉTODOS: Este foi um estudo de coorte retrospectiva realizado entre janeiro de 2014 e dezembro de 2018 com pacientes em ventilação mecânica com alguma limitação de suporte artificial de vida admitidos a uma única unidade de terapia intensiva. Foram comparados os pacientes submetidos à retirada da ventilação mecânica e os que não passaram por esse procedimento com relação à mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva e ao tempo de permanência no hospital, em uma análise não ajustada e em uma amostra pareada por escore de propensão. Analisou-se também o tempo desde a retirada da ventilação mecânica até o óbito. RESULTADOS: Dentre 282 pacientes com limitações a terapias de suporte à vida, 31 (11%) foram submetidos à retirada da ventilação mecânica. Não houve diferenças iniciais entre os grupos. As taxas de mortalidade na unidade de terapia intensiva e no hospital foram, respectivamente, de 71% versus 57% e 93% versus 80%, entre os pacientes submetidos à retirada da ventilação mecânica e os que não o foram. O tempo mediano de permanência na unidade de terapia intensiva foi de 7 versus 8 dias (p = 0,6), e o tempo de permanência no hospital foi de 9 versus 15 dias (p = 0,015). A mortalidade hospitalar não foi significantemente diferente (25/31; 81% versus 29/31; 93%; p = 0,26) após o pareamento. O tempo mediano desde a retirada da ventilação mecânica até o óbito foi de 2 dias [0 - 5] e 10/31 (32%) dos pacientes morreram dentro de 24 horas após a retirada dessa ventilação. CONCLUSÃO: Neste relato brasileiro, a retirada da ventilação mecânica representou 11% de todos os pacientes com limitação do tratamento e não se associou com aumento da mortalidade hospitalar após pareamento por escore de propensão das covariáveis relevantes.

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU in a university hospital in São Paulo, Brazil - study protocol.

OBJECTIVES: We designed a cohort study to describe characteristics and outcomes of patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) in the largest public hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil, as Latin America becomes the epicenter of the pandemic. METHODS: This is the protocol for a study being conducted at an academic hospital in Brazil with 300 adult ICU beds dedicated to COVID-19 patients. We will include adult patients admitted to the ICU with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 during the study period. The main outcome is ICU survival at 28 days. Data will be collected prospectively and retrospectively by trained investigators from the hospital's electronic medical records, using an electronic data capture tool. We will collect data on demographics, comorbidities, severity of disease, and laboratorial test results at admission. Information on the need for advanced life support and ventilator parameters will be collected during ICU stay. Patients will be followed up for 28 days in the ICU and 60 days in the hospital. We will plot Kaplan-Meier curves to estimate ICU and hospital survival and perform survival analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model to identify the main risk factors for mortality. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04378582. RESULTS: We expect to include a large sample of patients with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU and to be able to provide data on admission characteristics, use of advanced life support, ICU survival at 28 days, and hospital survival at 60 days. CONCLUSIONS: This study will provide epidemiological data about critically ill patients with COVID-19 in Brazil, which could inform health policy and resource allocation in low- and middle-income countries.

A decision-aid tool for ICU admission triage is associated with a reduction in potentially inappropriate intensive care unit admissions.

PURPOSE: Intensive care unit (ICU) admission triage occurs frequently and often involves highly subjective decisions that may lead to potentially inappropriate ICU admissions. In this study, we evaluated the effect of implementing a decision-aid tool for ICU triage on ICU admission decisions. METHODS: This was a prospective, before-after study. Urgent ICU referrals to ten ICUs in a tertiary hospital in Brazil were assessed before and after the implementation of the decision-aid tool. Our primary outcome was the proportion of potentially inappropriate ICU referrals (defined as priority 4B or 5 referrals, accordingly to the Society of Critical Care Medicine guidelines of 1999 and 2016, respectively) admitted to the ICU within 48 h. We conducted multivariate analyses to adjust for potential confounders and evaluated the interaction between phase and triage priority. RESULTS: Of the 2201 patients analyzed, 1184 (53.8%) patients were admitted to the ICU. After adjustment for confounders, implementation of the decision-aid tool was associated with a reduction in potentially inappropriate ICU admissions using either the 1999 [adjOR (95% CI) = 0.36 (0.13-0.97)] or 2016 [adjOR (95%CI) = 0.35 (0.13-0.96)] definitions. CONCLUSION: Implementation of a decision-aid tool for ICU triage was associated with a reduction in potentially inappropriate ICU admissions.

Withholding and Withdrawal of Treatments: Differences in Perceptions between Intensivists, Oncologists, and Prosecutors in Brazil.

Background: Legal concerns have been implicated in the occurrence of variability in decisions of limitations of medical treatment (LOMT) before death. Objective: We aimed to assess differences in perceptions between physicians and prosecutors toward LOMT. Measurements: We sent a survey to intensivists, oncologists, and prosecutors from Brazil, from February 2018 to May 2018. Respondents rated the degree of agreement with withholding or withdrawal of therapies in four different vignettes portraying a patient with terminal lung cancer. We measured the difference in agreement between respondents. Results: There were 748 respondents, with 522 (69.8%) intensivists, 106 (14.2%) oncologists, and 120 (16%) prosecutors. Most respondents agreed with withhold of chemotherapy (95.2%), withhold of mechanical ventilation (MV) (90.2%), and withdrawal of MV (78.4%), but most (75%) disagreed with withdrawal of MV without surrogate's consent. Prosecutors were less likely than intensivists and oncologists to agree with withhold of chemotherapy (95.7% vs. 99.2% vs. 100%, respectively, p < 0.001) and withhold of MV (82.4% vs. 98.3% vs. 97.9%, respectively, p < 0.001), whereas intensivists were more likely to agree with withdrawal of MV than oncologists (87.1% vs. 76.1%, p = 0.002). Moreover, prosecutors were more likely to agree with withholding of active cancer treatment than with withholding of MV [difference (95% confidence interval, CI) = 13.2% (5.2 to 21.6), p = 0.001], whereas physicians were more likely to agree with withholding than with withdrawal of MV [difference (95% CI) = 10.9% (7.8 to 14), p < 0.001]. Conclusions: This study found differences and agreements in perceptions toward LOMT between prosecutors, intensivists, and oncologists, which may inform the discourse aimed at improving end-of-life decisions.

Palliative care and neurology: a path to neuropalliativism / Cuidados Paliativos e Neurologia: um caminho para o neuropaliativismo

ABSTRACT This article aims to expand the understanding of how it is possible to alleviate suffering and enable a dignified life trajectory for patients with progressive neurological diseases or with severe and permanent neurological impairment. The four most common disease trajectories described for people with chronic and progressive disease used to advance care planning, Brazilian normative ethical resolutions, evidence-based benefits of palliative care (PC), as well as particularities of PC in neurology, such as neurological symptom control, caring for existential and psychological suffering, care provider's needs and particularities of pediatric neurologic PC are reviewed.

RESUMO Este artigo visa ampliar a compreensão de como é possível aliviar o sofrimento e possibilitar uma trajetória de vida digna para pacientes com doenças neurológicas progressivas ou com comprometimento neurológico grave e permanente. As quatro trajetórias de doença mais comuns descritas para pessoas com doença crônica e progressiva utilizadas no planejamento antecipado do cuidado, resoluções éticas normativas brasileiras, benefícios baseados em evidências dos cuidados paliativos (CP), além de particularidades dos CP em neurologia, como controle de sintomas neurológicos, cuidados existenciais e sofrimento psicológico, necessidades do cuidador e particularidades do CP neurológico pediátrico são revistos.

Factors potentially associated with the decision of admission to the intensive care unit in a middle-income country: a survey of Brazilian physicians. / Fatores potencialmente associados à decisão de admissão à unidade de terapia intensiva em um país em desenvolvimento: um levantamento de médicos brasileiros.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the factors potentially associated with the decision of admission to the intensive care unit in Brazil. METHODS: An electronic survey of Brazilian physicians working in intensive care units. Fourteen variables that were potentially associated with the decision of admission to the intensive care unit were rated as important (from 1 to 5) by the respondents and were later grouped as "patient-related," "scarcity-related" and "administrative-related" factors. The workplace and physician characteristics were evaluated for correlation with the factor ratings. RESULTS: During the study period, 125 physicians completed the survey. The scores on patient-related factors were rated higher on their potential to affect decisions than scarcity-related or administrative-related factors, with a mean ± SD of 3.42 ± 0.7, 2.75 ± 0.7 and 2.87 ± 0.7, respectively (p < 0.001). The patient's underlying illness prognosis was rated by 64.5% of the physicians as always or frequently affecting decisions, followed by acute illness prognosis (57%), number of intensive care unit beds available (56%) and patient's wishes (53%). After controlling for confounders, receiving specific training on intensive care unit triage was associated with higher ratings of the patient-related factors and scarcity-related factors, while working in a public intensive care unit (as opposed to a private intensive care unit) was associated with higher ratings of the scarcity-related factors. CONCLUSIONS: Patient-related factors were more frequently rated as potentially affecting intensive care unit admission decisions than scarcity-related or administrative-related factors. Physician and workplace characteristics were associated with different factor ratings.

OBJETIVO: Avaliar os fatores potencialmente associados à decisão de admitir um paciente à unidade de terapia intensiva no Brasil. MÉTODOS: Foi realizado um levantamento eletrônico de médicos brasileiros atuantes em unidades de terapia intensiva. Catorze variáveis consideradas potencialmente associadas à decisão de admitir um paciente à unidade de terapia intensiva foram pontuadas como importante (de 1 a 5) pelos participantes e, mais tarde, agrupadas como fatores "relacionados ao paciente", "relacionados à escassez" e "relacionados à administração". O ambiente de trabalho e as características do médico foram avaliados quanto à sua correlação com as pontuações dos fatores. RESULTADOS: Durante o período do estudo, 125 médicos preencheram o formulário. Os escores dos fatores relacionados ao paciente foram pontuados, em termos de seu potencial para afetar as decisões, em um nível mais alto do que os fatores relacionados à escassez ou à administração, com média (mais ou menos o desvio padrão), respectivamente, de 3,42 ± 0,7, 2,75 ± 0,7 e 2,87 ± 0,7 (p < 0,001). O prognóstico da doença de base do paciente foi classificado em 64,5% pelos médicos como afetando sempre ou frequentemente as decisões, seguido por prognóstico da doença aguda (57%), número de leitos disponíveis na unidade de terapia intensiva (56%) e vontade dos pacientes (53%). Após o ajuste de fatores de confusão, o recebimento de treinamento específico em triagem para terapia intensiva se associou com escores mais elevados dos fatores relacionados ao paciente e à escassez, enquanto o fato de trabalhar em uma unidade de terapia intensiva pública (em oposição a trabalhar em uma unidade de terapia intensiva privada) se associou com gradações mais elevadas para fatores relacionados à escassez. CONCLUSÕES: Os fatores relacionados ao paciente foram classificados como tendo potencial de afetar as decisões de admissão à unidade de terapia intensiva mais frequentemente do que fatores relacionados à escassez ou à administração. As características do médico e do ambiente de trabalho se associaram com classificações diferenciais dos fatores.