Life-prolonging treatment restrictions and outcomes in patients with cancer and COVID-19: an update from the Dutch Oncology COVID-19 Consortium.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic significantly impacted cancer care. In this study, clinical patient characteristics related to COVID-19 outcomes and advanced care planning, in terms of non-oncological treatment restrictions (e.g. do-not-resuscitate codes), were studied in patients with cancer and COVID-19. METHODS: The Dutch Oncology COVID-19 Consortium registry was launched in March 2020 in 45 hospitals in the Netherlands, primarily to identify risk factors of a severe COVID-19 outcome in patients with cancer. Here, an updated analysis of the registry was performed, and treatment restrictions (e.g. do-not-intubate codes) were studied in relation to COVID-19 outcomes in patients with cancer. Oncological treatment restrictions were not taken into account. RESULTS: Between 27th March 2020 and 4th February 2021, 1360 patients with cancer and COVID-19 were registered. Follow-up data of 830 patients could be validated for this analysis. Overall, 230 of 830 (27.7%) patients died of COVID-19, and 60% of the remaining 600 patients with resolved COVID-19 were admitted to the hospital. Patients with haematological malignancies or lung cancer had a higher risk of a fatal outcome than other solid tumours. No correlation between anticancer therapies and the risk of a fatal COVID-19 outcome was found. In terms of end-of-life communication, 50% of all patients had restrictions regarding life-prolonging treatment (e.g. do-not-intubate codes). Most identified patients with treatment restrictions had risk factors associated with fatal COVID-19 outcome. CONCLUSION: There was no evidence of a negative impact of anticancer therapies on COVID-19 outcomes. Timely end-of-life communication as part of advanced care planning could save patients from prolonged suffering and decrease burden in intensive care units. Early discussion of treatment restrictions should therefore be part of routine oncological care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Impact of Urgent Chemotherapy in Critically Ill Patients.

OBJECTIVE: Compare the mortality between critically ill patients who received urgent chemotherapy for a cancer-related life-threatening complication with matched patients (controls) who did not received it. DESIGN: Propensity score-matched retrospective study. SETTING: Adult intensive care unit in an oncological hospital. PARTICIPANTS: All adults with solid tumor or hematological malignancies who received at least 1 day of urgent intravenous chemotherapy for a cancer-related life-threatening complication. Using the propensity score method adjusted for 10 variables, patients who received urgent chemotherapy were matched to patients who did not. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: Intensive care unit and hospital mortality. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients (57% with solid tumors and 43% with hematological malignancies) who received urgent chemotherapy were matched to 94 controls. At intensive care unit admission, patients were similar except that those who received urgent chemotherapy were less likely to have received chemotherapy previously (36% vs 85%; P < .01). The intensive care unit (48.9% vs 23.4%; P < .01) and hospital (76.6% vs 46.8%; P < .01) mortality of the patients who received urgent chemotherapy was higher than the controls. The subgroup analysis showed that the higher mortality was limited to patients with solid tumor. CONCLUSION: The use of urgent chemotherapy is associated with an increase in the intensive care unit and hospital mortality of unselected critically ill patients with solid tumors but not in patients with hematological malignancies.

Using a National Representative Sample to Evaluate the Integrity of the 30-Day Surgical Mortality Metric.

The 30-day surgical mortality metric is endorsed by the National Quality Forum for value-based purchasing purposes. However, its integrity has been questioned, as there is documented evidence of hospital manipulation of this measure, by way of inappropriate palliative care designation and changes in patient selection. To determine if there is evidence of potential manipulation, we retrospectively analyzed 1,725,291 surgical admissions from 158 United States hospitals participating in the National Inpatient Sample from 2010 to 2011. As a way of evaluating unnecessary life-prolonging measures, we determined that a significant increase in mortality rate after post-operative day 30 (day 31-35) would indicate manipulation. We compared the post-operative mortality rates for each hospital between Post-Operative Day 26-30 and Post-Operative Day 31-35 using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. After application of the Bonferroni correction, the results showed that none of the hospitals had a statistically significant increase in mortality after post-operative day 30. This analysis fails to impugn the integrity of this measure, as we did not identify any evidence of potential manipulation of the 30-day surgical mortality metric.

Variations in Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Program across the Nation: Environmental Scan.

Background: Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) is an advance care planning tool that is designed to document end-of-life (EoL) care wishes of those living with limited life expectancies. Although positive impacts of POLST program has been studied, variations in state-specific POLST programs across the nation remain unknown. Objective: Identify state variations in POLST forms and determine if variations are associated with program maturity status. Design: Environmental scan. Measurements: Using the national POLST website, state-specific POLST program characteristics were examined. With available sample POLST forms, EoL care options were abstracted. Results: Of all 51 states (50 United States states and Washington, D.C examined), the majority (n = 48, 98%) were actively participating in POLST; 3 states (5.9%) had Mature status, 19 states and District of Columbia (39.2%) were Endorsed, 24 states were in the developing phase (47.1%), and 4 states (7.8%) were nonconforming. Forty-five states (88.2%) had forms available for review. Antibiotic and intravenous fluid options were identified in 32 (71.1%), and 33 (73.3%) POLST forms, respectively. Hospital transfer and use of oxygen were mentioned in all forms. Use of respiratory devices (i.e., continuous positive airway pressure and bi-level positive airway pressure) were mentioned on 27 (60%) forms, whereas ventilator or intubation use were mentioned in 36 POLST forms (80%). No associations were found between POLST maturity status and provision of treatment options. Conclusions: Variations in integration of infection and symptom management options were identified. Further research is needed to determine if there are regional factors associated with provision of treatment options on POLST forms and if there are differences in actual rates of infection or symptoms reported.

Changes Over Time in the Oregon Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment Registry: A Study of Two Decedent Cohorts.

Background: The Physician Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment (POLST) began in Oregon in 1993 and has since spread nationally and internationally. Objectives: Describe and compare demographics and POLST orders in two decedent cohorts: deaths in 2010-2011 (Cohort 1) and in 2015-2016 (Cohort 2). Design: Descriptive retrospective study. Setting/Subjects: Oregon decedents with an active form in the Oregon POLST Registry. Measurements: Oregon death records were matched with POLST orders. Descriptive analysis and logistic regression models assess differences between the cohorts. Results: The proportion of Oregon decedents with a registered POLST increased by 46.6% from 30.9% (17,902/58,000) in Cohort 1 to 45.3% (29,694/65,458) in Cohort 2. The largest increase (83.3%) was seen in decedents 95 years or older with a corresponding 78.7% increase in those with Alzheimer's disease and dementia, while the interval between POLST form completion and death in these decedents increased from a median of 9-52 weeks. Although orders for do not resuscitate and other orders to limit treatment remained the most prevalent in both cohorts, logistic regression models confirm a nearly twofold increase in odds for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and full treatment orders in Cohort 2 when controlling for age, sex, race, education, and cause of death. Conclusion: Compared with Cohort 1, Cohort 2 reflected several trends: a 46.6% increase in POLST Registry utilization most marked in the oldest old, substantial increases in time from POLST completion to death, and disproportionate increases in orders for more aggressive life-sustaining treatment. Based on these findings, we recommend testing new criteria for POLST completion in frail elders.

Life-Sustaining Procedures, Palliative Care Consultation, and Do-Not Resuscitate Status in Dying Patients With COPD in US Hospitals: 2010-2014.

AIM: Little is known regarding the extent to which dying patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) receive life-sustaining procedures and palliative care in US hospitals. We examined temporal trends and the impact of palliative care on the use of life-sustaining procedures in this population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective nationwide cohort analysis was performed using weighted National Inpatient Sample (NIS) data obtained from 2010 to 2014. Decedents ≥18 years of age at the time of death and with a principal diagnosis of COPD were included. We examined the receipt of life-sustaining procedures, defined as1 ventilation (intubation, mechanical ventilation, and noninvasive ventilation),2 vasopressor use (infusion and intravascular monitoring),3 nutrition (enteral and parenteral infusion of concentrated nutrition),4 dialysis, and5 cardiopulmonary resuscitation as well as palliative care consultation and do not resuscitate (DNR). We used compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) and the Rao-Scott correction of the χ2 statistic to determine the statistical significance of temporal trends of life-sustaining procedures, palliative care utilization, and DNR status. RESULTS: Among 37 312 324 hospitalizations, 38 425 patients were examined. The CAGRs of life-sustaining procedures were 6.61% and -9.73% among patients who underwent multiple procedures and patients who did not undergo any procedure, respectively (both P < .001). The CAGRs of palliative consultation and DNR were 5.25% and 36.62%, respectively (both P < .001). CONCLUSIONS: Among adults with COPD dying in US hospitals between 2010 and 2014, the utilization of life-sustaining procedures, palliative care, and DNR status increased.

Association between palliative care and life-sustaining treatments for patients with dementia: A nationwide 5-year cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The association between palliative care and life-sustaining treatments for patients with dementia is unclear in Asian countries. AIM: To analyse the use of palliative care and its association with aggressive treatments based on Taiwanese national data. DESIGN: A matched cohort study was conducted. The association between intervention and outcome was evaluated using conditional logistic regression analyses. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: The source population comprised 239,633 patients with dementia diagnosed between 2002 and 2013. We selected patients who received palliative care between 2009 and 2013 (the treatment cohort; N = 1996) and assembled a comparative cohort ( N = 3992) through 1:2 matching for confounding factors. RESULTS: After 2009, palliative care was provided to 3928 (1.64%) patients of the dementia population. The odds ratio for undergoing life-sustaining treatments in the treatment cohort versus the comparative cohort was <1 for most treatments (e.g. 0.41 for mechanical ventilation (95% confidence interval: 0.35-0.48)). The odds ratio was >1 for some treatments (e.g. 1.73 for tube feeding (95% confidence interval: 1.54-1.95)). Palliative care was more consistently associated with fewer life-sustaining treatments for those with cancer. CONCLUSIONS: Palliative care is related to reduced life-sustaining treatments for patients with dementia. However, except in the case of tube feeding, which tended to be provided alongside palliative care regardless of cancer status, having cancer possibly had itself a protective effect against the use of life-sustaining treatments. Modifying the eligibility criteria for palliative care in dementia, improving awareness on the terminal nature of dementia and facilitating advance planning for dementia patients may be priorities for health policies.

Hospital Variation in Utilization of Life-Sustaining Treatments among Patients with Do Not Resuscitate Orders.

OBJECTIVE: To determine between-hospital variation in interventions provided to patients with do not resuscitate (DNR) orders. DATA SOURCES/SETTING: United States Agency of Healthcare Research and Quality, Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project, California State Inpatient Database. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study including hospitalized patients aged 40 and older with potential indications for invasive treatments: in-hospital cardiac arrest (indication for CPR), acute respiratory failure (mechanical ventilation), acute renal failure (hemodialysis), septic shock (central venous catheterization), and palliative care. Hierarchical logistic regression to determine associations of hospital "early" DNR rates (DNR order placed within 24 hours of admission) with utilization of invasive interventions. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: California State Inpatient Database, year 2011. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Patients with DNR orders at high-DNR-rate hospitals were less likely to receive invasive mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure or hemodialysis for acute renal failure, but more likely to receive palliative care than DNR patients at low-DNR-rate hospitals. Patients without DNR orders experienced similar rates of invasive interventions regardless of hospital DNR rates. CONCLUSIONS: Hospitals vary widely in the scope of invasive or organ-supporting treatments provided to patients with DNR orders.

Comparison of healthcare utilization and life-sustaining interventions between elderly patients with dementia and those with cancer near the end of life: A nationwide, population-based study in Taiwan.

AIM: Little is known about the pattern of healthcare services for end-of-life patients with dementia (PwD) in East Asia. We compared this pattern between PwD and cancer patients in their last year of life in Taiwan. METHODS: Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database was applied for this case-control analysis. The records of patients who had dementia and died between 2002 and 2011 were reviewed. The control group was decedents with cancer. The utilization of hospitalization, emergency department visits and life-sustaining interventions during the last year of life between the two groups were compared. RESULTS: Of the 2724 patients enrolled, 908 had dementia and 1816 had cancer. PwD were more likely to have a higher frequency of admission to hospital and intensive care unit, and longer stays compared with cancer patients. PwD had a higher risk of enteral tube insertion and feeding, endotracheal intubation and tracheostomy, mechanical ventilation, hemodialysis and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (OR 4.36, 95% CI 3.51-5.41), which was the highest among the selected procedures. CONCLUSIONS: PwD in their last year of life in Taiwan underwent aggressive interventions significantly more frequently than did their counterparts in Western countries. Providing comfort-centered care for better quality of life for end-of-life PwD is a priority of Taiwan's national health policy. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2017; 17: 2545-2551.

Differences in Utilization of Life Support and End-of-Life Care for Medical ICU Patients With Versus Without Cancer.

OBJECTIVES: To explore differences in the utilization of life support and end-of-life care between patients dying in the medical ICU with cancer compared with those without cancer. DESIGN: Retrospective review of 403 deaths or hospice transfers in the medical ICU from January 1, 2012, to June 30, 2013. SETTING: Urban tertiary care university hospital. PATIENTS: Consecutive medical ICU deaths or hospice transfers over an 18-month period. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred eighty-two patients (45%) had a diagnosis of active cancer and 221 (55%) did not. Despite similar severity of illness, there were significant differences in the use of life support and end-of-life care. Patients without cancer had longer medical ICU length of stay (median, 5 vs 4 d; p = 0.0495), used mechanical ventilation more often and for longer (83.7% vs 70.9%, p = 0.002; 4 vs 3 d, p = 0.017), and initiated dialysis more frequently (26.7% vs 14.8%; p = 0.0038). Patients without active cancer had family meetings later (median, 3 vs 2 d; p = 0.001), less frequent palliative care consultation (17.6% vs 32.4%; p = 0.0006), and took longer to transition to do not resuscitate or comfort care (median, 4 vs 3 d; p = 0.048). CONCLUSIONS: Among patients dying in the medical ICU, the diagnosis of active cancer influences the intensity of life support utilization and the quality of end-of-life care. Patients with active cancer use less life support and may receive better end-of-life care than similar patients without cancer. These differences are likely due to biases or misunderstandings about the trajectory of advanced nonmalignant disease among patients, families, and perhaps providers.

Limitation to Advanced Life Support in patients admitted to intensive care unit with integrated palliative care. / Limitação de Suporte Avançado de Vida em pacientes admitidos em unidade de terapia intensiva com cuidados paliativos integrados.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the incidence of limitations to Advanced Life Support in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit with integrated palliative care. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study included patients in the palliative care program of the intensive care unit of Hospital Paulistano over 18 years of age from May 1, 2011, to January 31, 2014. The limitations to Advanced Life Support that were analyzed included do-not-resuscitate orders, mechanical ventilation, dialysis and vasoactive drugs. Central tendency measures were calculated for quantitative variables. The chi-squared test was used to compare the characteristics of patients with or without limits to Advanced Life Support, and the Wilcoxon test was used to compare length of stay after Advanced Life Support. Confidence intervals reflecting p ≤ 0.05 were considered for statistical significance. RESULTS: A total of 3,487 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, of whom 342 were included in the palliative care program. It was observed that after entering the palliative care program, it took a median of 2 (1 - 4) days for death to occur in the intensive care unit and 4 (2 - 11) days for hospital death to occur. Many of the limitations to Advanced Life Support (42.7%) took place on the first day of hospitalization. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (96.8%) and ventilatory support (73.6%) were the most adopted limitations. CONCLUSION: The contribution of palliative care integrated into the intensive care unit was important for the practice of orthothanasia, i.e., the non-extension of the life of a critically ill patient by artificial means.

Limitação de Suporte Avançado de Vida em pacientes admitidos em unidade de terapia intensiva com cuidados paliativos integrados / Limitation to Advanced Life Support in patients admitted to intensive care unit with integrated palliative care

RESUMO Objetivo: Estimar a incidência de limitação de Suporte Avançado de Vida em pacientes graves internados em unidade de terapia intensiva com cuidados paliativos integrados. Métodos: Estudo de coorte retrospectivo, no qual foram incluídos os pacientes inseridos no programa de cuidados paliativos da unidade de terapia intensiva do Hospital Paulistano, maiores de 18 anos de idade, no período de 1º de maio de 2011 a 31 de janeiro de 2014. As limitações de Suporte Avançado de Vida analisadas foram: ordem para não ressuscitar, ventilação mecânica, hemodiálise e droga vasoativa. Para as variáveis quantitativas, foram calculadas medidas de tendência central. O teste qui quadrado foi utilizado para comparar características dos pacientes com ou sem limitação de Suporte Avançado de Vida e teste de Wilcoxon, para comparar o tempo de internação após Suporte Avançado de Vida. Para significância estatística, consideraram-se o intervalo de confiança e p ≤ 0,05. Resultados: Foram internados na unidade de terapia intensiva 3.487 pacientes, sendo 342 inseridos no programa de cuidados paliativos. Observou-se que, após entrada no programa de cuidados paliativos, demorou uma mediana de 2 (1 - 4) dias para o óbito na unidade de terapia intensiva e 4 (2 - 11) dias para óbito hospitalar. Boa parte das limitações de Suporte Avançado de Vida (42,7%) aconteceu no primeiro dia de internação. A ressuscitação cardiopulmonar (96,8%) e o suporte ventilatório (73,6%) foram as limitações mais adotadas. Conclusão: Foi relevante a contribuição dos cuidados paliativos integrados à unidade de terapia intensiva para a prática da ortotanásia, ou seja, o não prolongamento da vida de um paciente terminal por meios artificiais.

ABSTRACT Objective: To estimate the incidence of limitations to Advanced Life Support in critically ill patients admitted to an intensive care unit with integrated palliative care. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included patients in the palliative care program of the intensive care unit of Hospital Paulistano over 18 years of age from May 1, 2011, to January 31, 2014. The limitations to Advanced Life Support that were analyzed included do-not-resuscitate orders, mechanical ventilation, dialysis and vasoactive drugs. Central tendency measures were calculated for quantitative variables. The chi-squared test was used to compare the characteristics of patients with or without limits to Advanced Life Support, and the Wilcoxon test was used to compare length of stay after Advanced Life Support. Confidence intervals reflecting p ≤ 0.05 were considered for statistical significance. Results: A total of 3,487 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit, of whom 342 were included in the palliative care program. It was observed that after entering the palliative care program, it took a median of 2 (1 - 4) days for death to occur in the intensive care unit and 4 (2 - 11) days for hospital death to occur. Many of the limitations to Advanced Life Support (42.7%) took place on the first day of hospitalization. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (96.8%) and ventilatory support (73.6%) were the most adopted limitations. Conclusion: The contribution of palliative care integrated into the intensive care unit was important for the practice of orthothanasia, i.e., the non-extension of the life of a critically ill patient by artificial means.

Acceptance of Advance Directives and Palliative Care Referral for Veterans With Advanced Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the documentation of advance directive (ADs) and physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) with acceptance of palliative care (PC) services referral among patients with cancer. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed veterans with advanced cancers at the Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care System. Chi-square tests estimated AD and POLST documentation and referral to PC. Logistic regression models estimated the odds of AD and POLST documentation and PC referral. RESULTS: Two hundred and forty-six veterans were diagnosed with cancer. In all, 53% had a documented AD, 5% had a POLST, and 47% accepted referral to PC. The AD documentation was not associated with acceptance of PC. DISCUSSION: We found no association of AD documentation and PC referral. Future studies should evaluate other factors that influence referral to these services.

Limiting and Withdrawing Life Support in the PICU: For Whom Are These Options Discussed?

OBJECTIVES: Most deaths in U.S. PICUs occur after a decision has been made to limitation or withdrawal of life support. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of children whose families discussed limitation or withdrawal of life support with clinicians during their child's PICU stay and to determine the factors associated with limitation or withdrawal of life support discussions. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of data prospectively collected from a random sample of children admitted to PICUs affiliated with the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network between December 4, 2011, and April 7, 2013. SETTING: Seven clinical sites affiliated with the Collaborative Pediatric Critical Care Research Network. PATIENTS: Ten thousand seventy-eight children less than 18 years old, admitted to a PICU, and not moribund at admission. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Families of 248 children (2.5%) discussed limitation or withdrawal of life support with clinicians. By using a multivariate logistic model, we found that PICU admission age less than 14 days, reduced functional status prior to hospital admission, primary diagnosis of cancer, recent catastrophic event, emergent PICU admission, greater physiologic instability, and government insurance were independently associated with higher likelihood of discussing limitation or withdrawal of life support. Black race, primary diagnosis of neurologic illness, and postoperative status were independently associated with lower likelihood of discussing limitation or withdrawal of life support. Clinical site was also independently associated with likelihood of limitation or withdrawal of life support discussions. One hundred seventy-three children (69.8%) whose families discussed limitation or withdrawal of life support died during their hospitalization; of these, 166 (96.0%) died in the PICU and 149 (86.1%) after limitation or withdrawal of life support was performed. Of those who survived, 40 children (53.4%) were discharged with severe or very severe functional abnormalities, and 15 (20%) with coma/vegetative state. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical factors reflecting type and severity of illness, sociodemographics, and institutional practices may influence whether limitation or withdrawal of life support is discussed with families of PICU patients. Most children whose families discuss limitation or withdrawal of life support die during their PICU stay; survivors often have substantial disabilities.

Advanced Cancer and End-of-Life Preferences: Curative Intent Surgery Versus Noncurative Intent Treatment.

BACKGROUND: People with cancer face complex medical decisions, including whether to receive life-sustaining treatments at the end of life. It is not unusual for clinicians to make assumptions about patients' wishes based on whether they had previously chosen to pursue curative treatment. OBJECTIVE: We hypothesized that cancer patients who initially underwent curative intent surgery (CIS) would prefer more aggressive end-of-life treatments compared to patients whose treatment was noncurative intent (non-CIT). METHODS: This study was a retrospective review of data from a large, randomized controlled trial examining the use of an online decision aid for advance care planning, "Making Your Wishes Known" (MYWK), with patients who had advanced cancer. We reviewed patients' medical records to determine which patients underwent CIS versus non-CIT. In the parent trial, conducted at an academic medical center (2007-2012), 200 patients were enrolled with stage IV malignancy or other poor prognosis cancer. Patients' preferences for aggressive treatment were measured in two ways: using patient-selected General Wishes statements generated by the decision aid and patient-selected wishes for specific treatments under various hypothetical clinical scenarios (Specific Wishes). RESULTS: We evaluated 79 patients. Of these, 48 had undergone initial CIS and 31 had non-CIT. Cancer patients who initially underwent CIS did not prefer more aggressive end-of-life treatments compared to patients whose treatment was non-CIT. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians should avoid assumptions about patients' preferences for life-sustaining treatment based on their prior choices for aggressive treatment.

Timing of POLST Form Completion by Cause of Death.

CONTEXT: The physician orders for life-sustaining treatment (POLST) paradigm allows health care professionals to document the treatment preferences of patients with advanced illness or frailty as portable and actionable medical orders. National standards encourage offering POLST orders to patients for whom clinicians would not be surprised if they died in the next year. OBJECTIVES: To determine the influence of cause of death on the timing of POLST form completion and on changes to POLST orders as death approaches. METHODS: This was a cohort study of 18,285 Oregon POLST Registry decedents who died in 2010-2011 matched to Oregon death certificates. RESULTS: The median interval between POLST completion and death was 6.4 weeks. Those dying of cancer had forms completed nearer death (median 5.1 weeks) than those with organ failure (10.6 weeks) or dementia (14.5 weeks; P < 0.001). More than 90% of final POLST forms indicated orders for no resuscitation and 65.1% listed orders for comfort measures only. Eleven percent of the sample had multiple registered forms during the two years preceding their death, with the form completed nearest to death more likely than earlier forms to have orders for no resuscitation and comfort measures only, although some later forms did have orders for more treatment. CONCLUSION: More than half of POLST forms were completed in the final two months of life. Cause of death influenced when POLST forms were completed. POLST forms changed in the two years preceding death, more frequently recording fewer life-sustaining treatment orders than the earlier form(s).

Aggressive operative treatment of isolated blunt traumatic brain injury in the elderly is associated with favourable outcome.

Outcome after traumatic brain injury (TBI) in the elderly has not been fully elucidated. The present retrospective observational study investigates the age-dependent outcome of patients suffering from severe isolated TBI with regard to operative and non-operative treatment. Data were prospectively collected in the TraumaRegister DGU. Anonymous datasets of 8629 patients with isolated severe blunt TBI (AISHead≥3, AISBody≤1) documented from 2002 to 2011 were analysed. Patients were grouped according to age: 1-17, 18-59, 60-69, 70-79 and ≥80 years. Cranial fractures (44.8%) and subdural haematomas (42.6%) were the most common TBIs. Independent from the type of TBI the group of patients with operative treatment declined with rising age. Subgroup analysis of patients with critical TBI (AISHead=5) revealed standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) of 0.81 (95% CI 0.75-0.87) in case of operative treatment (n=1201) and 1.13 (95% CI 1.09-1.18) in case of non-operative treatment (n=1096). All age groups ≥60 years showed significantly reduced SMRs in case of operative treatment. Across all age groups the group of patients with low/moderate disability according to the GOS (4 or 5 points) was higher in case of operative treatment. Results of this retrospective observational study have to be interpreted cautiously. However, good outcome after TBI with severe space-occupying haemorrhage is more frequent in patients with operative treatment across all age groups. Age alone should not be the reason for limited care or denial of operative intervention.

Racial variation in the use of life-sustaining treatments among patients who die after major elective surgery.

BACKGROUND: Although various studies have documented increased life-sustaining treatments among racial minorities in medical patients, whether similar disparities exist in surgical patients is unknown. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2006 to 2011) examining patients older than 39 years who died after elective colectomy was performed. Primary predictor variable was race, and main outcome was the use of life-sustaining treatment. RESULTS: In univariate analysis, significant differences existed in use of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR; black, 35.9%; Hispanic, 29.0%; other, 24.5%; white, 11.7%; P = .002) and reintubation (Hispanic, 75.0%; other, 69.0%; black, 52.3%; white, 45.2%; P = .01). In multivariate analysis, black (odds ratio [OR], 3.67; P = .01) and Hispanic (OR, 4.21; P = .03) patients were more likely to have undergone CPR, and Hispanic patients (OR, 4.24; P = .01) were more likely to have been reintubated (reference: white). CONCLUSIONS: Blacks and Hispanics had increased odds of experiencing CPR, and Hispanics were more likely to have been reintubated before death after a major elective operation. These variations may imply worse quality of death and increased associated costs.

Limitation of life-sustaining treatment in patients with prolonged admission to the ICU. Current situation in Spain as seen from the EPIPUSE Study.

OBJECTIVE: Limitation of life-sustaining treatment (LLST) is a recommended practice in certain circumstances. Limitation practices are varied, and their application differs from one center to another. The present study evaluates the current situation of LLST practices in patients with prolonged admission to the ICU who suffer worsening of their condition. DESIGN: A prospective, observational cohort study was carried out. SETTING: Seventy-five Spanish ICUs. PATIENTS: A total of 589 patients suffering 777 complications or adverse events with organ function impairment after day 7 of admission, during a three-month recruitment period. MAIN VARIABLES OF INTEREST: The timing of limitation, the subject proposing LLST, the degree of agreement within the team, the influence of LLST upon the doctor-patient-family relationship, and the way in which LLST is implemented. RESULTS: LLST was proposed in 34.3% of the patients presenting prolonged admission to the ICU with severe complications. The incidence was higher in patients with moderate to severe lung disease, cancer, immunosuppressive treatment or dependence for basic activities of daily living. LLST was finally implemented in 97% of the cases in which it was proposed. The decision within the medical team was unanimous in 87.9% of the cases. The doctor-patient-family relationship usually does not change or even improves in this situation. CONCLUSION: LLST in ICUs is usually carried out under unanimous decision of the medical team, is performed more frequently in patients with severe comorbidity, and usually does not have a negative impact upon the relationship with the patients and their families.

Factors associated with futile end-of-life intensive care in a cancer hospital.

BACKGROUND: Management of critically ill patients involves weighing potential benefit of advanced life support against preserving quality of life, avoidance of futile measures and rational use of resources. AIM: Our study aims to identify the predisposing factors involved in the institution and maintenance of futile intensive care support in terminally ill cancer patients in whom no additional treatment for the malignant disease would be offered. DESIGN: We retrospectively analysed the medical records of patients who died in a tertiary cancer hospital (Hospital A C Camargo, São Paulo, Brazil) during an eight month period. Medical futility was defined when a patient, despite having been stated in the hospital records as having no possible lifespan extending treatment, was admitted to intensive care and received advanced life support. These cases were compared to controls who received palliative end-of-life care. RESULTS: Three hundred and forty-seven deaths were recorded, of which 238 did not undergo futile treatment, 71 received full code treatment and 38 received futile treatments. Statistically significant predisposing factors for medical futility were, in our analysis, lack of palliative care team consultation (p < 0.001) and hematologic malignancy (p = 0.036). Qualitative analysis of medical records traced futile treatments to physicians' lacking proactive attitudes in considering prognosis and talking to families. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that a significant minority of end-of-life care consists of futile treatments. Strategies to increase Oncologists' and Critical Care specialists' alertness to these issues and expand indications of Palliative Care consultations are recommended.