Emergent use of mechanical circulatory support devices: ethical dilemmas.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) devices are 'life-sustaining devices' placed as a bridge to decision, either recovery, transplantation or a lifetime tether with the device. Cardiogenic shock may compromise patient autonomy, or the right for an individual patient to determine his own care. This review addresses an ethical dilemma in the context of complex clinical medical decision-making, during marked uncertainty for outcomes. RECENT FINDINGS: The language in an advanced directive is often imprecise and may not provide clear guidance, especially for emergent decisions related to MCS devices. Despite improving outcomes, application of MCS in critical illness is associated with excessive morbidity and quality of life-limiting adverse outcomes. Several cohort experiences now exist that define deactivation of Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs) in futility as now deemed as morally and ethically appropriate. In contradistinction to euthanasia, deactivation of an LVAD does not introduce new intervention or an additional surgical injury, thereby allowing the patient to die from their original disorder. SUMMARY: Clinicians must maintain the principle of patient autonomy, ensure the viability of an appropriate informed consent process and facilitate surrogate judgment. An interdisciplinary team-based approach is required, and, in some cases, assisted by formal ethics consultations in vexing situations.

Predictors of changes in health status between and within patients 12 months post left ventricular assist device implantation.

BACKGROUND: Improving patient-reported outcomes (e.g. health status) has become an important goal in left ventricular assist device (LVAD) therapy, in addition to reducing mortality and morbidity. We examined predictors of changes in health status scores between and within patients 12 months post LVAD implantation. METHODS: Health status [Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ); Short-Form 12 (SF-12)] were assessed at 3-4 weeks after implantation, and at 3, 6 and 12 months follow up in 54 LVAD patients (74% men; mean age 54 ± 9 years). RESULTS: Patients experienced significant improvements in health status between baseline and 3 months follow-up as assessed by the KCCQ (clinical summary score: F = 33.49, P < 0.001; overall summary score: F = 31.13, P < 0.001) and the SF-12 (physical component score: F = 31.59, P < 0.001; mental component score: F = 21.77, P < 0.001), but not between 3 months and 12 months follow-up (P > 0.05 for all). Higher scores on anxiety and depression over time, older age, lower ejection fraction, and more co-morbidity were associated with poorer health status scores on one or both of the KCCQ and SF-12 subscales. The majority of the between-patient variance of the mental component summary scores (82.6%), but not the KCCQ overall summary score (41.9%), KCCQ clinical summary score (36.2%) and physical component summary scores (23.2%), was explained by the sociodemographic, clinical and psychological factors. CONCLUSION: The majority of LVAD patients show a significant improvement in health status after LVAD implantation. However, there are large differences in individual health status score trajectories which are only partly explained by measures of disease severity pre-LVAD, co-morbidity and psychological stress.

Medical and nursing care of the child on mechanical circulatory support.

OBJECTIVES: To review the medical and nursing care of children receiving mechanical circulatory support as part of the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society/Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Joint Statement on Mechanical Circulatory Support. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SELECTION/DATA EXTRACTION/DATA SYNTHESIS: This is a general review of current issues of medical and nursing care of children on mechanical circulatory support. It consists of knowledge gained from practical experience combined with supporting evidence and/or discussion of controversies for which evidence exists or is inconclusive. The scope of this review includes assessment and monitoring, cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal and fluid management, as well as infection prevention and treatment, neurological, and nutritional considerations. Physical and psychological care is discussed, as well as ethical and practical issues regarding termination of support. CONCLUSIONS: There are unique aspects to the medical and nursing care of a patient requiring mechanical circulatory support. Preserving the possibility for cardiac recovery when possible and preventing damage to noncardiac organs are essential to maximizing the probability that patients will have quality survival following support with a mechanical circulatory support device.

Retrospective analysis of the psychologic effects of mechanical circulatory support.

There is an increasing need to evaluate the psychologic impact of circulatory support because of the growing use of mechanical assist devices. Twenty-seven people, 12 survivors of mechanical circulatory assistance and 15 family members, were surveyed; nonsurvivors' families were not surveyed. The 12 survivors (ages 18 to 66 years; mean, 43 years) had been supported with Pierce-Donachy ventricular assist devices (nine patients) and the Novacor left ventricular assist system (one patient). One patient received a centrifugal pump, and one was supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Duration of support ranged from 8 hours to 90 days (mean, 23 days). Ten people surveyed were spouses of these patients, and five were parents of children who had been supported with ECMO. Three patients were supported longer than 3 weeks, and four patients were awake and ambulatory during support. Financial worries were not a concern for 80% of the parents but were a concern for 80% of the spouses. Eighteen percent of the patients believed they were treated as an experiment, whereas 40% of their spouses thought they were. None of the parents thought their child was treated as an experiment. Sixty-seven percent of the patients stated that they have returned to a normal life-style, and 75% feel they have a brighter outlook on life. Six patients have returned to work, two are retired, two are disabled, and two have physical capabilities to work but choose not to. Eighty-nine percent of all those surveyed would recommend an assist device to someone who needed one. Although these procedures are often associated with severe medical and psychologic complications, 74% of the patients would agree to a second implant.

Intra-aortic balloon pumping and stress in the coronary care unit.

This study compared the perceptions of psychological stress experienced by patients on the IABP with that of other patients in the CCU. During 13 weeks, structured interviews were conducted with 17 male and 10 female patients: Seven were treated with the IABP; 10 were not on the pump but were present during its use; and 10 were neither on the pump nor in physical proximity to it. To measure psychological stress, each patient responded to a list of 20 potentially stressful situations using a stress rating scale. Analysis of variance was used to determine differences in perceptions. The results identified factors in the CCU that patients perceived as stressful and were compared with those of earlier research. Data analysis demonstrated moderate support for the study's hypotheses. Stress levels of patients on the IABP were significantly higher than those of patients who were not on the IABP but present during its use. No significant differences were found between stress levels of patients on the IABP and patients with the IAPB absent or between those of the two groups who were not on the pump. Implications for nursing care of the patient on the IABP were also discussed.