Puesta al día y recomendaciones en la toma de decisiones de limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital / Update and recommendations in decision making referred to limitation of advanced life support treatment

El Grupo de Trabajo de Bioética de la SEMICYUC ha elaborado las recomendaciones en la toma de decisiones de limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital con la aspiración de disminuir la variabilidad en la práctica clínica observada y de contribuir a la mejora de los cuidados al final de la vida del paciente crítico. Además de abordar el marco conceptual de la limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital y de la futilidad, desarrolla las nuevas formas de limitación extendiéndola a la adecuación de otros tratamientos y métodos diagnósticos, además de planificar los posibles cursos evolutivos tras la decisión de limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital. Se enfatiza la importancia de la planificación compartida de la asistencia sanitaria en la toma de decisiones, se presentan los cuidados intensivos orientados a la donación y se promueve la integración de los cuidados paliativos en el tratamiento del paciente crítico en estadios del final de la vida en UCI

The Spanish Society of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and Coronary Units (SEMICYUC) Bioethics Working Group has developed recommendations on the Limitation of Advanced Life Support Treatment (LLST) decisions, with the aim of reducing variability in clinical practice and of improving end of life care in critically ill patients. The conceptual framework of LLST and futility are explained. Recommendations referred to new forms of LLST encompassing also the adequacy of other treatments and diagnostic methods are developed. In addition, planning of the possible clinical courses following the decision of LLST is commented. The importance of advanced care planning in decision-making is emphasized, and intensive care oriented towards organ donation at end of life in the critically ill patient is described. The integration of palliative care in the critical patient treatment is promoted in end of life stages in the Intensive Care Unit

Update and recommendations in decision making referred to limitation of advanced life support treatment. / Puesta al día y recomendaciones en la toma de decisiones de limitación de tratamientos de soporte vital.

The Spanish Society of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and Coronary Units (SEMICYUC) Bioethics Working Group has developed recommendations on the Limitation of Advanced Life Support Treatment (LLST) decisions, with the aim of reducing variability in clinical practice and of improving end of life care in critically ill patients. The conceptual framework of LLST and futility are explained. Recommendations referred to new forms of LLST encompassing also the adequacy of other treatments and diagnostic methods are developed. In addition, planning of the possible clinical courses following the decision of LLST is commented. The importance of advanced care planning in decision-making is emphasized, and intensive care oriented towards organ donation at end of life in the critically ill patient is described. The integration of palliative care in the critical patient treatment is promoted in end of life stages in the Intensive Care Unit.

Comentario a «En respuesta a la pregunta: ¿Jugamos todos en el mismo equipo?» / Comment to «In reply to the question: Are we really playing together in the same team?»

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Decisiones en los cuidados al final de la vida. ¿Jugamos en el mismo equipo? / Decision-making in end of life care. Are we really playing together in the same team?

Antecedentes: La limitación del tratamiento de soporte vital es cada vez más frecuente en las unidades de críticos, y la donación en asistolia controlada se está empezando a incluir como una opción dentro del plan de cuidados de los pacientes. La falta de conocimientos y los malos entendidos pueden suponer una barrera entre los profesionales sanitarios. Objetivo: Determinar la percepción, conocimientos y actitud de los médicos y enfermeras que trabajan en las unidades de críticos sobre la limitación del tratamiento de soporte vital y donación en asistolia controlada. Diseño, ajustes y participantes: Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal en 13 hospitales españoles utilizando un cuestionario diseñado a tal efecto. Métodos: Para analizar las respuestas se utilizaron tablas de contingencia, el test de Chi cuadrado de Pearson, la «t» de Student y el test de Mann-Whitney para el análisis estadístico descriptivo bivariante y multivariante. Resultados: Aunque la limitación del tratamiento de soporte vital es una práctica muy extendida, el trabajo muestra cómo los enfermeros se sienten excluidos tanto del desarrollo de protocolos como de los procesos de decisión, mientras que la percepción de los médicos es que tienen mayores conocimientos y que las decisiones se toman conjuntamente. Conclusiones: Para solventar estas diferencias, los programas formativos multidisciplinares pueden ayudar a los profesionales de la salud a trabajar conjuntamente, con mayor coordinación, beneficiando tanto a pacientes como a sus familias, y proporcionando cuidados de calidad al final de la vida

Background: Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is increasingly common in critical care units, and controlled donation after circulatory death is starting to be included as an option within patient care plans. Lack of knowledge and misunderstandings can place a barrier between healthcare professionals. Objective: To determine the perceptions, knowledge and attitudes of physicians and nurses working in intensive care units regarding Limitation of life-sustaining treatment and controlled donation after circulatory death. Design, settings and participants: Cross-sectional study carried out in 13 Spanish hospitals by means of an ad hoc questionnaire. Methods: Contingency tables, Pearson's chi-squared test, Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney u-test were used to carry out descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses of responses. Results: Although Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is a widespread practice, the survey revealed that nurses feel excluded from the development of protocols and the decision-making process, whilst the perception of physicians is that they have greater knowledge of the topic, and decisions are reached in consensus. Conclusions: Multi-disciplinary training programmes can help critical healthcare providers to work together with greater coordination, thus benefitting patients and their next of kin by providing excellent end-of-life care

Decision-making in end of life care. Are we really playing together in the same team? / Decisiones en los cuidados al final de la vida. ¿Jugamos en el mismo equipo?

BACKGROUND: Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is increasingly common in critical care units, and controlled donation after circulatory death is starting to be included as an option within patient care plans. Lack of knowledge and misunderstandings can place a barrier between healthcare professionals. OBJECTIVE: To determine the perceptions, knowledge and attitudes of physicians and nurses working in intensive care units regarding Limitation of life-sustaining treatment and controlled donation after circulatory death. DESIGN, SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Cross-sectional study carried out in 13 Spanish hospitals by means of an ad hoc questionnaire. METHODS: Contingency tables, Pearson's chi-squared test, Student's t-test and the Mann-Whitney u-test were used to carry out descriptive, bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses of responses. RESULTS: Although Limitation of life-sustaining treatment is a widespread practice, the survey revealed that nurses feel excluded from the development of protocols and the decision-making process, whilst the perception of physicians is that they have greater knowledge of the topic, and decisions are reached in consensus. CONCLUSIONS: Multi-disciplinary training programmes can help critical healthcare providers to work together with greater coordination, thus benefitting patients and their next of kin by providing excellent end-of-life care.

Encuesta nacional sobre los indicadores de calidad en Bioética de la SEMICYUC, en los servicios de Medicina Intensiva en España / National survey on the indicators of quality in Bioethics of the SEMICYUC in the departments of Intensive Care Medicine in Spain

Introducción: En los servicios de Medicina Intensiva (SMI) se realizan múltiples intervenciones a los pacientes críticos. Nuestros objetivos son conocer la presencia en la práctica diaria de los SMI de elementos relacionados con los 6 indicadores de calidad en Bioética de la Sociedad Española de Medicina Intensiva Crítica y Unidades Coronarias y la participación de sus miembros en los comités de ética asistencial. Material y métodos: Estudio observacional multicéntrico mediante encuesta que estudia aspectos descriptivos de los SMI, plantea 25 cuestiones relacionadas con los indicadores de calidad bioéticos y describe la participación de miembros del SMI en los comités de ética asistencial. Los SMI se clasifican por tamaño (mayor/menor de 10 camas) y tipo de hospital (público/privado-concertado, docente/no docente). Resultados: En las 68 encuestas analizadas encontramos: información familiar diaria (97%), efectuada en sala de información (82%); protocolos de cuidados al final de vida (44%); formulario de limitación de tratamiento de soporte vital (48,43%); protocolo de contención (40%). El cumplimiento del proceso de consentimiento informado es: traqueostomía (92%), intervención vascular (76%), depuración extrarrenal (25%). La presencia actual de miembros del SMI en el Comité de Ética es frecuente (69%). Conclusiones: La información a familiares es adecuada, aunque hay SMI sin sala de información. El cumplimiento del proceso de consentimiento informado de varios procedimientos es insuficiente. La participación de miembros del SMI en los comités de ética asistencial es frecuente. Los resultados evidencian margen de mejora en la calidad bioética de los SMI (AU)

Introduction: Multiple interventions are performed in critical patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs). This study explores the presence in the daily practice of ICUs of elements related to the 6 bioethics quality indicators of the Spanish Society of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and Coronary Units, and the participation of their members in the hospital ethics committees. Materials and methods: A multicenter observational study was carried out, using a survey exploring descriptive aspects of the ICUs, with 25 questions related to bioethics quality indicators, and assessing the participation of ICU members in the hospital ethics committees. The ICUs were classified by size (larger or smaller than 10 beds) and type of hospital (public/private-public concerted center, with/without teaching). Results: The 68 analyzed surveys revealed: daily informing of the family (97%), carried out in the information room (82%); end-of-life care protocols (44%); life support limitation form (48.43%); and physical containment protocol (40%). Compliance with the informed consent process referred to different procedures is: tracheostomy (92%), vascular procedures (76%), and extrarenal clearance (25%). The presence of ICU members in the hospital ethics committee is currently frequent (69%). Conclusions: Information supplied to relatives is adequate, although there are ICUs without an information room. Compliance with the informed consent requirements of various procedures is insufficient. The participation of ICU members in the hospital ethics committees is frequent. The results obtained suggest a chance for improvement in the bioethical quality of the ICU (AU)

National survey on the indicators of quality in Bioethics of the SEMICYUC in the departments of Intensive Care Medicine in Spain. / Encuesta nacional sobre los indicadores de calidad en Bioética de la SEMICYUC, en los servicios de Medicina Intensiva en España.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple interventions are performed in critical patients admitted to Intensive Care Units (ICUs). This study explores the presence in the daily practice of ICUs of elements related to the 6 bioethics quality indicators of the Spanish Society of Intensive and Critical Care Medicine and Coronary Units, and the participation of their members in the hospital ethics committees. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A multicenter observational study was carried out, using a survey exploring descriptive aspects of the ICUs, with 25 questions related to bioethics quality indicators, and assessing the participation of ICU members in the hospital ethics committees. The ICUs were classified by size (larger or smaller than 10 beds) and type of hospital (public/private-public concerted center, with/without teaching). RESULTS: The 68 analyzed surveys revealed: daily informing of the family (97%), carried out in the information room (82%); end-of-life care protocols (44%); life support limitation form (48.43%); and physical containment protocol (40%). Compliance with the informed consent process referred to different procedures is: tracheostomy (92%), vascular procedures (76%), and extrarenal clearance (25%). The presence of ICU members in the hospital ethics committee is currently frequent (69%). CONCLUSIONS: Information supplied to relatives is adequate, although there are ICUs without an information room. Compliance with the informed consent requirements of various procedures is insufficient. The participation of ICU members in the hospital ethics committees is frequent. The results obtained suggest a chance for improvement in the bioethical quality of the ICU.