Shared perioperative decision making: a shift in the doctor-patient paradigm.

The high-risk surgical patient only constitutes approximately 4% of the elective non-cardiac surgical population but contributes to the vast majority of in-hospital deaths following surgery. This, in conjunction with a high morbidity rate, can lead to a perioperative pathway fraught with challenges. It is incredibly difficult to anticipate which complications may arise and the risks involved before surgery. It is for this reason that patients need to be engaged in the decision-making processes regarding their perioperative care involved before major surgery. A combination of good medical practice, medicolegal influences and a governmental drive have begun to result in a shift away from paternalistic medicine to a shared decision-making approach. This article defines shared decision making, explores its benefits and limitations and addresses the relevant legal literature.

Timing of acute kidney injury--does it matter? A single-centre experience from the United Kingdom.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) is associated with high mortality and long-term dependence on RRT. However, there is limited information about the difference in outcome between patients who develop AKI in the community (c-AKI), and those who develop AKI in hospital (h-AKI). AIM: Identify differences in short- and long-term outcomes between patients admitted with c-AKI and h-AKI who require intermittent haemodialysis, and to identify factors that predict poor outcome. DESIGN & METHODS: Single-centre, retrospective analysis of 306 patients with AKI who received intermittent haemodialysis between 2009 and 2011. FOLLOW-UP: six months. Primary endpoints: patient and renal survival. Secondary endpoints: time on dialysis, length of hospital stay, and admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). RESULTS: Survival for patients in the h-AKI group was significantly lower, at 42.9% (compared to 72%). They had a significantly longer length of stay. However, at 6-month follow-up, the survival benefit of the c-AKI group was no longer significant. Patients with h-AKI were more likely to be dialysis independent at discharge and six months although this result did not reach statistical significance. Independent predictors of survival to discharge within the entire group included: renal/post-renal causes of AKI, younger age, pre-existing diabetes, and c-AKI. The only independent predictor for RRT dependence at discharge and six months was pre-existing chronic kidney disease. CONCLUSIONS: h-AKI is associated with high mortality and longer hospital stays during the acute admission. However, h-AKI patients who survive are more likely to be independent of RRT at discharge and follow-up.