RESUMO
We retrospectively analyzed the data of 56 of 669 critically ill patients admitted to an internal medicine intensive care unit (ICU) with palliative care provided by a palliative care team over the period of 12 months. For delivering palliative care, we used a mixed model-consisting of both integrative and consultative elements. SAPS III severity score in patients with palliative care was 63 ± 15 compared to 50 ± 15 in all critically ill patients. Hospital mortality was 62.5 vs. 16%. After 3 months, 19.6% of patients with palliative care provided by the palliative care team were still alive. In 15 patients curative therapies were discontinued, while there was no further escalation of the therapy in 30 patients. In 47 patients, special help to the relatives was offered. In 13 cases, there was a disagreement between relatives and the ICU team; in 5 cases a family conference was implemented. Two patients wanted extensive intensive care therapy, despite unfavorable prognosis; one patient wished to die. One patient had an advanced directive.
Assuntos
Estado Terminal/terapia , Unidades de Terapia Intensiva , Cuidados Paliativos , Encaminhamento e Consulta , Adulto , Diretivas Antecipadas , Idoso , Comunicação , Estado Terminal/mortalidade , Tomada de Decisões , Prestação Integrada de Cuidados de Saúde , Feminino , Alemanha , Mortalidade Hospitalar , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Relações Profissional-Família , Estudos Retrospectivos , Escore Fisiológico Agudo Simplificado , Suspensão de TratamentoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: In a pilot study, 9 patients (39-48 years) with acute decompensated heart failure and a cardiac index (CI) of 1.9 ± 0.3 l/min/m(2) were included after exclusion of an underlying hepatic disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The effect of levosimendan on liver blood flow and liver function was measured with the LiMON(®) system using the indocyane green plasma disappearance rate (ICG PDR). RESULTS: Levosimendan (Simdax(®)) infusion resulted in a significant increase of the CI, thus, achieving normal ranges of 2.9 ± 0.9 l/min/m(2) after 4 h and 3.3 ± 1 l/min/m(2) (p = 0.003) after 24 h. ICG PDR increased from 8.2 ± 0.8 % to 10.2 + 1.8 % after 4 h and to 11.9 ± 2.9 % after 24 h (p = 0.04). DISCUSSION: The reason for the early increase in systemic blood flow with no concomitant change in ICG PDR is not clear. A primary increase in liver blood flow with sustained low liver function might be one explanation; a low flow-mediated increased release of cytokines from liver cells with consequent deterioration of liver function is another possible explanation.
