Quality of Life
Conditions
Brief summary
The purpose of this retrospective observational study is to describe the sequence of ICU-therapies that are limited and to compare characteristics and the decision making process in surgical ICU-patients.
Detailed description
Decisions to limit life-support therapy are common on the intensive care unit (ICU). End-of-life decisions (EOLD) underlie a dynamic process and limitation of ICU-therapies is done sequentially. Questionnaire-based and observational studies on medical ICUs and in palliative care reveal blood transfusions as the first therapy physicians withhold in EOLDs. Whether this practice also applies to surgical ICU-patients is unknown. The purpose of this retrospective observational study is to describe the sequence of ICU-therapies that are limited and to compare characteristics and the decision making process in surgical ICU-patients.
Interventions
Approximately 200 patients will be enrolled in the study. They are followed up until their death on the ICU. In clinical routine end-of-life decisions are documented for decision-makers and procedures in the patients´ records. Patients´ characteristics and therapeutic approaches are documented in the electronic patient data management system.
Sponsors
Charite University, Berlin, Germany
Study design
Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* All surgical patients admitted to the ICU All surgical patients discharged death from the ICU
Exclusion criteria
* All patients discharged alive from the ICU
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| sequence of withdrawing life-sustaining treatment | 3 years | The primary objective of this study performed according to an observational post-ad-hoc design is to identify the sequence of withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in surgical ICU-patients with an end-of-life decision on an intensive care unit of a German academic medical center. Approximately 200 patients will be enrolled in the study. They are followed up until their death on the ICU. In clinical routine end-of-life decisions are documented for decision-makers and procedures in the patients´ records. Patients´ characteristics and therapeutic approaches are documented in the electronic patient data management system. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| factors associated with the withholding of specific ICU-therapies | 3 years | Approximately 200 patients will be enrolled in the study. They are followed up until their death on the ICU. In routine end-of-life decisions are documented for decision-makers and procedures in the patients´ records. Patients´ characteristics and therapeutic approaches are documented in the electronic patient data management system |
Outcome results
None listed