Advance directives in the emergency department-a systematic review of the status quo.

BACKGROUND: Providing individualised healthcare in line with patient wishes is a particular challenge for emergency healthcare professionals. Documentation of patient wishes (DPW), e.g. as advance directives, can guide clinicians in making end-of-life decisions that respect the patient's wishes and autonomy. However, patient centered decisions are hindered by limited availability of DPWs in emergency settings. OBJECTIVE: This systematic review aims to congregate present data on recorded rates for DPW existence and availability in the emergency department (ED) as well as contributing factors for these rates. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, Google Scholar, Embase and Web of Science databases in September 2023. Publications providing primary quantitative data on DPW in the ED were assessed. Publications referring only to a subset of ED patients (other than geriatric) and investigating DPW issued after admission were excluded. RESULTS: A total of 22 studies from 1996 to 2021 were included in the analysis. Most were from the US (n = 12), followed by Australia (n = 4), Canada (n = 2), South Korea, Germany, the United Kingdom and Switzerland (n = 1 each). In the general adult population presenting to the ED, 19.9-27.8% of patients reported having some form of DPW, but only in 6.8% or less it was available on presentation. In the geriatric population, DPW rates (2.6-79%) as well as their availability (1.1-48.8%) varied widely. The following variables were identified as positive predictors of having DPW, among others: higher age, poorer overall health, as well as sociodemographic factors, such as female gender, having children, being in a relationship, higher level of education or a recent previous presentation to hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Existence and availability of a recorded DPW among ED patients was low in general and even in geriatric populations mostly well below 50%. While we were able to gather data on prevalence and predictors, this was limited by heterogeneous data. We believe further research is needed to explore the quality of DPW and measures to increase both rates of existence and availability of DPW in the ED.

David aortic valve-sparing reimplantation versus biological aortic root replacement: a retrospective analysis of 411 patients.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to compare short- and long-term results for patients undergoing either aortic valve-sparing reimplantation (David) procedure (AVr-D) or biological aortic root replacement (Bentall) procedure (ARr-B-bio) for aortic root pathology. METHODS: We compared outcomes for patients who underwent AVr-D (n = 261) or ARr-B-bio (n = 150) between 2000 and 2015 at our institution. The mean age of patients was 55 ± 13 years and 21.7% (n = 89) were female. ARr-B-bio patients were significantly older than AVr-D patients (58 ± 10 vs 53 ± 15 years, p < 0.001) and had a significantly lower incidence of connective tissue disorders (2.0% vs 16.9%, p < 0.001). Follow-up was complete in 88% of patients. RESULTS: Mortality at 30 days was 1.2% (n = 5) overall, at 0.4% (n = 1) significantly lower in the AVr-D group compared with 2.7% (n = 4) in the ARr-B-bio group (p = 0.04). Postoperative low cardiac output was more common in ARr-B-bio patients (n = 4) versus AVr-D patients (n = 0; p = 0.008). The occurrence of postoperative strokes was 2.2% (n = 9) in both groups, without significant differences (p = 0.84). Five- and ten-year survival was 93.7 ± 1.8% and 84.4 ± 4.7% in patients who received AVr-D and 90.9 ± 2.6% and 84.6 ± 5.4% for ARr-B-bio patients (log-rank p = 0.37). Using Cox regression analysis, age (HR 1.06; 95% CI 1.02-1.10, p = 0.002), smoking (HR 2.74; 95% CI 1.28-5.86, p = 0.01), and emergency surgery (HR 6.58; 95% CI 1.69-25.54, p = 0.007) were found to be independent predictors of long-term mortality.There was no difference in freedom from reoperation between AVr-D (89.4 ± 3.4% at 10 years) and ARr-B-bio (80.4 ± 7.5% at 10 years, log-rank p = 0.66) patients, nor for freedom from stroke, bleeding, myocardial infarction, or endocarditis during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term outcomes for both AVr-D and ARr-B-bio are excellent in patients with aortic root pathology. The long-term outcomes were associated with comparable survival and freedom from reoperation. AVr-D may be preferable to ARr-B-bio in patients with suitable pathoanatomy.

Early and Late Results After David vs Bentall Procedure: A Propensity Matched Analysis.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of patients who underwent aortic valve-sparing reimplantation (David) vs aortic root replacement (Bentall) operations in a propensity-matched analysis. METHODS: The study compared the data of propensity-matched patients who underwent David (n = 261) or Bentall (n = 262) procedures from 2000 to 2015. The mean age at surgery in the entire cohort was 53 ± 13 years, and 19.7% (n = 103) of the study patients were female. Connective tissue disease was present in 9.4% (n = 49) of patients, whereas 37.1% (n = 194) presented with a bicuspid aortic valve. RESULTS: The overall 30-day mortality was 1.1% (n = 6) and was not significantly different in patients with the David compared with the Bentall operation (0.4% [n = 1] vs 1.9% [n = 5]; P = .1). The 5- and 10-year survival rates were 93.7 ± 1.8% vs 93.8 ± 1.6% and 84.4 ± 4.7% vs 89.5 ± 3.2% for David vs Bentall, respectively (log-rank P = .98). Cox regression analysis identified age, smoking and previous cardiac surgery as independent predictors of long-term mortality. Freedom from reoperation did not significantly differ between patient groups (89.5 ± 3.4% vs 87.8 ± 4.1% 10 years postoperatively; log-rank P = .71). Bentall-treated patients had a higher rate of serious bleeding during follow-up (P = .025). CONCLUSIONS: Both the David and Bentall operations are associated with excellent early and long-term results in patients with aortic root aneurysmal disease. The David operation is associated with less bleeding than the Bentall operation, without an increased risk of reoperation. Because of avoidance of bleeding and other long-term complications associated with prosthetic heart valves, the David operation is preferable to the Bentall operation in patients with appropriate pathoanatomy.