Managing Death in the ICU

Managing Death in the ICU
Author: J. Randall Curtis
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 407
Release: 2001
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0195128818

A clear and concise statement of facts and causes that have led step by step to the present deplorable condition of public affairs and the corruption of the body politic"--Preface.

Palliative Care in Cardiac Intensive Care Units

Palliative Care in Cardiac Intensive Care Units
Author: Massimo Romanò
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 195
Release: 2021-09-29
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 3030801128

This book analyzes the main topics of Palliative Care in Cardiac Intensive Care Units (CICU), from the changing epidemiology of patients admitted to the ICU, to the main clinical and ethical issues. The changing epidemiology of patients has led to new and emerging patient needs at the end of life. Care has shifted from acute coronary syndrome patients towards elderly patients, with a high prevalence of non-ischemic cardiovascular diseases and a high burden of non-cardiovascular comorbid conditions: both increase the susceptibility of patients to developing life-threatening critical conditions. These conditions are associated with a significant symptom burden, high mortality rate, and increased length of stay. The main new challenges involve shared decision-making, symptom control (pain, dyspnea, etc.), and ethical issues (withholding/withdrawing life sustaining treatments, deactivation of implanted cardiac devices, palliative sedation), all of which necessitate formal education on end-of-life care. Written by opinion leaders in their respective fields, who share their experience with improving the cultural and clinical competence of medical/nursing teams, this volume is chiefly intended for cardiologists, anesthesiologists, palliative care doctors and nursing staff.

AACN Protocols for Practice

AACN Protocols for Practice
Author: Justine Medina
Publisher: Jones & Bartlett Learning
Total Pages: 78
Release: 2006
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9780763740276

AACN Protocols for Practice: Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues in Critical Care sets forth the evidence-based guidelines for providing appropriate care, whether aggressively life-saving or palliative end-of-life care. the Protocols equip critical care nurses to effectively manage the following: symptom management. family issues and intervention. withholding and withdrawing life support. communication and conflict resolution. caring for the caregiver. Additionally, the text includes a state-of-the-science review that provides guidance to critical care nurses while acknowledging the limited

End of Life Care in the ICU

End of Life Care in the ICU
Author: Graeme Rocker
Publisher: OUP Oxford
Total Pages: 416
Release: 2010-01-28
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 019923924X

This book highlights real clinical issues which need to be addressed if quality palliative care within ICUs is to be consistently delivered. It is presented in an easily accessible, bullet pointed style, and is illustrated with case histories from real-life patients, and drug tables.

Palliative Care in Critical Care, An Issue of Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America

Palliative Care in Critical Care, An Issue of Critical Care Nursing Clinics of North America
Author: Tonja Hartjes
Publisher: Elsevier Health Sciences
Total Pages: 137
Release: 2016-07-22
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0323395600

Intensive care units (ICUs) provide comprehensive, advanced care to patients with serious or life-threatening conditions and consequently, a significant amount of end-of-life care (EOLC). Indeed, approximately 20% of deaths in the U.S. are associated with an ICU stay, and nearly half of U.S. patients who die in hospitals experience an ICU stay during the last 3 days of life. Despite the commonality of the ICU experience, ICU patients typically suffer from a range of distressing symptoms such as pain, fatigue, anxiety, and dyspnea, causing families significant distress on their behalf. Thus, there is a growing imperative for better provision of palliative care (PC) in the ICU, which may prevent and relieve suffering for patients with life threatening illnesses. Effective palliative care is accomplished through aggressive symptom management, communication about the patient and family’s physical, psychosocial and spiritual concerns, and aligning treatments with each patient’s goals, values, and preferences. PC is also patient-centered and uses a multidisciplinary, team-based approach that can be provided in conjunction with other life-sustaining treatments, or as a primary treatment approach. Failure to align treatment goals with individual and family preferences can create distress for patients, families, and providers. If implemented appropriately, palliative care may significantly reduce the health care costs associated with intensive hospital care, and help patients avoid the common, non-person centered treatment that is wasteful, distressing, and potentially harmful. Due to the success of many PC programs, administrators, providers, and accrediting bodies are beginning to understand that palliative care in the ICU is vital to optimal patient outcomes.

Textbook of Palliative Care

Textbook of Palliative Care
Author: Roderick Duncan MacLeod
Publisher: Springer
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2025-05-29
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 9783031489907

This second edition provides the most up-to-date information on all aspects of palliative care including recent developments (including COVID-19), global policies, service provision, symptom management, professional aspects, organization of services, palliative care for specific populations, palliative care emergencies, ethical issues in palliative care, research in palliative care, public health approaches and financial aspects of care. This new Textbook of Palliative Care remains a unique, comprehensive, clinically relevant and state-of-the art book, aimed at advancing palliative care as a science, a clinical practice and as an art. Palliative care has been part of healthcare for over fifty years but we still needs to be explained. Healthcare education and training has been slow to recognize the vital importance of ensuring that all practitioners have a good understanding of what is involved in the care of people with serious or advanced illnesses and theirfamilies. However, the science of palliative care is advancing and this new edition will contribute to a better understanding of this specialty. This new edition offers 20 new chapters out of over 120, written by experts in their given fields provide up-to-date information on a wide range of topics of relevance to those providing care towards the end of life no matter what the disease may be. We present a global perspective on contemporary and classic issues in palliative care with authors from a wide range of disciplines involved in this essential aspect of care. The Textbook includes sections addressing aspects such as symptom management and care provision, organization of care in different settings, care in specific disease groups, palliative care emergencies, ethics, public health approaches and research in palliative care. This new Textbook will be of value to practitioners in all disciplines and professions where the care of people approaching death is important, specialists as well as non-specialists, in any setting where people with serious advanced illnesses are residing. It is also an important resource for researchers, policy-and decision-makers at national or regional levels. Neither the science nor the art of palliative care will stand still so the Editors and contributors from all over the world aim to keep this Textbook updated so that the reader can find new evidence and approaches to care.

Improving End-of-life Care in the Intensive Care Unit

Improving End-of-life Care in the Intensive Care Unit
Author: Mercy Joseph
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2015
Genre: Evidence-based nursing
ISBN:

The end of life care has rising focus nowadays associated with increasing life expectancy and advanced technologies to prolong life. Advance care planning and initiation of palliative care services bring hope to the patient population to enhance the quality of life at their end stages of life. According to the study shows, there are 22% of death happens in the intensive care unit in the United States (Troug et al, 2008), so the pursuit of quality care has increased interest in the designated area. Based on the research studies, the advance care planning and the comfort care services enhance quality of life, decreased use of life sustaining treatments, decreased hospital length of stay, increased use of hospice or palliative care services, and better patient/family cope up and satisfaction. The main objective of the study is to enhance the quality of life among patients with terminal and chronic life limiting illness by implementing a strategic plan of end of life care. The implementation plan includes the use of Physician orders for life sustaining treatment form (POLST) for all ICU patients, family conferences, routine palliative care consultation, and an added educational training of the health care workers, can provide a holistic care to the dying patients. The comfort theory will be incorporated into the project by assessing the patient needs, nursing interventions, and the evaluation of patient comfort. An end of life care survey has developed to evaluate the family and staff satisfaction with the above implementation plan. A dissemination of the project outcome will be communicated to the stakeholders through open meetings/discussions, staff development program, and make use of the organizational website and newsletters.

Geriatric Emergency Medicine

Geriatric Emergency Medicine
Author: Joseph H. Kahn
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 383
Release: 2014-01-16
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1107677645

This comprehensive volume provides a practical framework for evaluation, management and disposition of this growing vulnerable patient population.

Dying in America

Dying in America
Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
Total Pages: 470
Release: 2015-03-19
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 0309303133

For patients and their loved ones, no care decisions are more profound than those made near the end of life. Unfortunately, the experience of dying in the United States is often characterized by fragmented care, inadequate treatment of distressing symptoms, frequent transitions among care settings, and enormous care responsibilities for families. According to this report, the current health care system of rendering more intensive services than are necessary and desired by patients, and the lack of coordination among programs increases risks to patients and creates avoidable burdens on them and their families. Dying in America is a study of the current state of health care for persons of all ages who are nearing the end of life. Death is not a strictly medical event. Ideally, health care for those nearing the end of life harmonizes with social, psychological, and spiritual support. All people with advanced illnesses who may be approaching the end of life are entitled to access to high-quality, compassionate, evidence-based care, consistent with their wishes. Dying in America evaluates strategies to integrate care into a person- and family-centered, team-based framework, and makes recommendations to create a system that coordinates care and supports and respects the choices of patients and their families. The findings and recommendations of this report will address the needs of patients and their families and assist policy makers, clinicians and their educational and credentialing bodies, leaders of health care delivery and financing organizations, researchers, public and private funders, religious and community leaders, advocates of better care, journalists, and the public to provide the best care possible for people nearing the end of life.