ABSTRACT
Background: How children die in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) has been poorly described, and support for parents during this traumatic experience could be improved. Better information on perceptible signs of the end of life (EOL) in children may help mitigate the trauma. Objective: To describe the most common perceptible EOL signs in PICU patients. Methods: A prospective study in a PICU. Health care providers observed 28 children expected to die and noted the perceptible signs. Results: The most common perceptible signs were desaturation and bradycardia. Twenty-seven patients had at least one change in physical appearance. Gasping was noted in 12 patients. Conclusion: Perceptible signs of the EOL were different from those reported in children dying in other units or in adults. Sharing information about signs of EOL with parents may prepare them and enable them to better support their child.
Subject(s)
Death , Parents , Child , Humans , Prospective Studies , Critical CareABSTRACT
When the mobile emergency and intensive care service (Smur) intervenes with a child, the parents are in a completely unknown and anxiety-generating situation. The care team helps families to find their place, depending on the medical context and health status of the child. The intervention of the Smur therefore represents a place of transition for the parents.
