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Tong HH, Creutzfeldt CJ, Hicks KG, Kross EK, Sharma RK, Jennerich AL. Questions From Family Members During the Dying Process And Moral Distress Experienced by ICU Nurses. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 67:402-410.e1. [PMID: 38342474 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.01.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For a hospitalized patient, transitioning to comfort measures only (CMO) involves discontinuation of life-prolonging interventions with a goal of allowing natural death. Nurses play a pivotal role during the provision of CMO, caring for both the dying patient and their family. OBJECTIVE To examine the experiences of ICU nurses caring for patients receiving CMO. METHODS Between October 2020 and June 2021, nurses in the neuro- and medical-cardiac intensive care units at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, WA, completed surveys about their experiences providing CMO. Surveys addressed involvement in discussions about CMO and questions asked by family members of dying patients. We also assessed nurses' moral distress related to CMO and used ordinal logistic regression to examine predictors of moral distress. RESULTS Surveys were completed by 82 nurses (response rate 44%), with 79 (96%) reporting experience providing CMO in the previous year. Most preferred to be present for discussions between physicians or advanced practice providers and family members about transitioning to CMO (89% most of the time or always); however, only 31% were present most of the time or always. Questions from family about time to death, changes in breathing, and medications to relieve symptoms were common. Most nurses reported moral distress at least some of the time when providing CMO (62%). Feeling well-prepared to answer specific questions from family was associated with less moral distress. CONCLUSION There is discordance between nurses' preferences for inclusion in discussions about the transition to CMO and their actual presence. Moral distress is common for nurses when providing CMO and feeling prepared to answer questions from family members may attenuate distress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao H Tong
- University of Pennsylvania, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care (H.H.T.), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology (C.J.C.), Seattle, Washington, USA; Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington (C.J.C., E.K.K., R.K.S., A.L.J.), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Katherine G Hicks
- Baylor College of Medicine, Section of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine (K.G.H.), Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Erin K Kross
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington (C.J.C., E.K.K., R.K.S., A.L.J.), Seattle, Washington, USA; Harborview Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington (E.K.K., A.L.J.), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Rashmi K Sharma
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington (C.J.C., E.K.K., R.K.S., A.L.J.), Seattle, Washington, USA; University of Washington, Division of General Internal Medicine (R.K.S.), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ann L Jennerich
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington (C.J.C., E.K.K., R.K.S., A.L.J.), Seattle, Washington, USA; Harborview Medical Center, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington (E.K.K., A.L.J.), Seattle, Washington, USA.
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Hwang DY, Kim KS, Muehlschlegel S, Wartenberg KE, Rajajee V, Alexander SA, Busl KM, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fontaine GV, Hocker SE, Madzar D, Mahanes D, Mainali S, Sakowitz OW, Varelas PN, Weimar C, Westermaier T, Meixensberger J. Guidelines for Neuroprognostication in Critically Ill Adults with Intracerebral Hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care 2024; 40:395-414. [PMID: 37923968 PMCID: PMC10959839 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01854-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this document is to provide recommendations on the formal reliability of major clinical predictors often associated with intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) neuroprognostication. METHODS A narrative systematic review was completed using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology and the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Timing, Setting questions. Predictors, which included both individual clinical variables and prediction models, were selected based on clinical relevance and attention in the literature. Following construction of the evidence profile and summary of findings, recommendations were based on Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria. Good practice statements addressed essential principles of neuroprognostication that could not be framed in the Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Timing, Setting format. RESULTS Six candidate clinical variables and two clinical grading scales (the original ICH score and maximally treated ICH score) were selected for recommendation creation. A total of 347 articles out of 10,751 articles screened met our eligibility criteria. Consensus statements of good practice included deferring neuroprognostication-aside from the most clinically devastated patients-for at least the first 48-72 h of intensive care unit admission; understanding what outcomes would have been most valued by the patient; and counseling of patients and surrogates whose ultimate neurological recovery may occur over a variable period of time. Although many clinical variables and grading scales are associated with ICH poor outcome, no clinical variable alone or sole clinical grading scale was suggested by the panel as currently being reliable by itself for use in counseling patients with ICH and their surrogates, regarding functional outcome at 3 months and beyond or 30-day mortality. CONCLUSIONS These guidelines provide recommendations on the formal reliability of predictors of poor outcome in the context of counseling patients with ICH and surrogates and suggest broad principles of neuroprognostication. Clinicians formulating their judgments of prognosis for patients with ICH should avoid anchoring bias based solely on any one clinical variable or published clinical grading scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Y Hwang
- Division of Neurocritical Care, Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 170 Manning Drive, CB# 7025, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7025, USA.
| | - Keri S Kim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Division of Neurosciences Critical Care, Departments of Neurology and Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Katharina M Busl
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Gabriel V Fontaine
- Departments of Pharmacy and Neurosciences, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sara E Hocker
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Dominik Madzar
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dea Mahanes
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UVA Health, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shraddha Mainali
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Oliver W Sakowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Center Ludwigsburg-Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | | | - Christian Weimar
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- BDH-Klinik Elzach, Elzach, Germany
| | - Thomas Westermaier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Helios Amper-Kliniken Dachau, University of Wuerzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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3
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Mahanes D, Muehlschlegel S, Wartenberg KE, Rajajee V, Alexander SA, Busl KM, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fontaine GV, Hocker SE, Hwang DY, Kim KS, Madzar D, Mainali S, Meixensberger J, Varelas PN, Weimar C, Westermaier T, Sakowitz OW. Guidelines for neuroprognostication in adults with traumatic spinal cord injury. Neurocrit Care 2024; 40:415-437. [PMID: 37957419 PMCID: PMC10959804 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01845-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traumatic spinal cord injury (tSCI) impacts patients and their families acutely and often for the long term. The ability of clinicians to share prognostic information about mortality and functional outcomes allows patients and their surrogates to engage in decision-making and plan for the future. These guidelines provide recommendations on the reliability of acute-phase clinical predictors to inform neuroprognostication and guide clinicians in counseling adult patients with tSCI or their surrogates. METHODS A narrative systematic review was completed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. Candidate predictors, including clinical variables and prediction models, were selected based on clinical relevance and presence of an appropriate body of evidence. The Population/Intervention/Comparator/Outcome/Timing/Setting question was framed as "When counseling patients or surrogates of critically ill patients with traumatic spinal cord injury, should < predictor, with time of assessment if appropriate > be considered a reliable predictor of < outcome, with time frame of assessment >?" Additional full-text screening criteria were used to exclude small and lower quality studies. Following construction of an evidence profile and summary of findings, recommendations were based on four Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria: quality of evidence, balance of desirable and undesirable consequences, values and preferences, and resource use. Good practice recommendations addressed essential principles of neuroprognostication that could not be framed in the Population/Intervention/Comparator/Outcome/Timing/Setting format. Throughout the guideline development process, an individual living with tSCI provided perspective on patient-centered priorities. RESULTS Six candidate clinical variables and one prediction model were selected. Out of 11,132 articles screened, 369 met inclusion criteria for full-text review and 35 articles met eligibility criteria to guide recommendations. We recommend pathologic findings on magnetic resonance imaging, neurological level of injury, and severity of injury as moderately reliable predictors of American Spinal Cord Injury Impairment Scale improvement and the Dutch Clinical Prediction Rule as a moderately reliable prediction model of independent ambulation at 1 year after injury. No other reliable or moderately reliable predictors of mortality or functional outcome were identified. Good practice recommendations include considering the complete clinical condition as opposed to a single variable and communicating the challenges of likely functional deficits as well as potential for improvement and for long-term quality of life with SCI-related deficits to patients and surrogates. CONCLUSIONS These guidelines provide recommendations about the reliability of acute-phase predictors of mortality, functional outcome, American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale grade conversion, and recovery of independent ambulation for consideration when counseling patients with tSCI or their surrogates and suggest broad principles of neuroprognostication in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dea Mahanes
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UVA Health, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology and Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Katharina M Busl
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Gabriel V Fontaine
- Departments of Pharmacy and Neurosciences, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sara E Hocker
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David Y Hwang
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Keri S Kim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dominik Madzar
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Shraddha Mainali
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Christian Weimar
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- BDH-Clinic Elzach, Elzach, Germany
| | - Thomas Westermaier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Helios Amper-Klinikum Dachau, Dachau, Germany
| | - Oliver W Sakowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Center Ludwigsburg-Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Germany.
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4
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Muehlschlegel S, Rajajee V, Wartenberg KE, Alexander SA, Busl KM, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fontaine GV, Hocker SE, Hwang DY, Kim KS, Madzar D, Mahanes D, Mainali S, Meixensberger J, Sakowitz OW, Varelas PN, Weimar C, Westermaier T. Guidelines for Neuroprognostication in Critically Ill Adults with Moderate-Severe Traumatic Brain Injury. Neurocrit Care 2024; 40:448-476. [PMID: 38366277 PMCID: PMC10959796 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01902-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Moderate-severe traumatic brain injury (msTBI) carries high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Accurate neuroprognostication is essential in guiding clinical decisions, including patient triage and transition to comfort measures. Here we provide recommendations regarding the reliability of major clinical predictors and prediction models commonly used in msTBI neuroprognostication, guiding clinicians in counseling surrogate decision-makers. METHODS Using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology, we conducted a systematic narrative review of the most clinically relevant predictors and prediction models cited in the literature. The review involved framing specific population/intervention/comparator/outcome/timing/setting (PICOTS) questions and employing stringent full-text screening criteria to examine the literature, focusing on four GRADE criteria: quality of evidence, desirability of outcomes, values and preferences, and resource use. Moreover, good practice recommendations addressing the key principles of neuroprognostication were drafted. RESULTS After screening 8125 articles, 41 met our eligibility criteria. Ten clinical variables and nine grading scales were selected. Many articles varied in defining "poor" functional outcomes. For consistency, we treated "poor" as "unfavorable". Although many clinical variables are associated with poor outcome in msTBI, only the presence of bilateral pupillary nonreactivity on admission, conditional on accurate assessment without confounding from medications or injuries, was deemed moderately reliable for counseling surrogates regarding 6-month functional outcomes or in-hospital mortality. In terms of prediction models, the Corticosteroid Randomization After Significant Head Injury (CRASH)-basic, CRASH-CT (CRASH-basic extended by computed tomography features), International Mission for Prognosis and Analysis of Clinical Trials in TBI (IMPACT)-core, IMPACT-extended, and IMPACT-lab models were recommended as moderately reliable in predicting 14-day to 6-month mortality and functional outcomes at 6 months and beyond. When using "moderately reliable" predictors or prediction models, the clinician must acknowledge "substantial" uncertainty in the prognosis. CONCLUSIONS These guidelines provide recommendations to clinicians on the formal reliability of individual predictors and prediction models of poor outcome when counseling surrogates of patients with msTBI and suggest broad principles of neuroprognostication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Departments of Neurology and Anesthesiology/Critical Care Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | - Katharina M Busl
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | - Gabriel V Fontaine
- Departments of Pharmacy and Neurosciences, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sara E Hocker
- Department of Neurology, Saint Luke's Health System, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - David Y Hwang
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Keri S Kim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dominik Madzar
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dea Mahanes
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shraddha Mainali
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Oliver W Sakowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Center Ludwigsburg-Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | | | - Christian Weimar
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- BDH-Klinik Elzach, Elzach, Germany
| | - Thomas Westermaier
- Department of Neurosurgery, Helios Amper Klinikum Dachau, Dachau, Germany.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
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5
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Hwang DY, Bannon SM, Meurer K, Kubota R, Baskaran N, Kim J, Zhang Q, Reichman M, Fishbein NS, Lichstein K, Motta M, Muehlschlegel S, Reznik ME, Jaffa MN, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fehnel CR, Tomlinson AD, Williamson CA, Vranceanu AM. Thematic Analysis of Psychosocial Stressors and Adaptive Coping Strategies Among Informal Caregivers of Patients Surviving ICU Admission for Coma. Neurocrit Care 2024; 40:674-688. [PMID: 37523110 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01804-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Family caregivers of patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) with coma experience heightened emotional distress stemming from simultaneous stressors. Stress and coping frameworks can inform psychosocial intervention development by elucidating common challenges and ways of navigating such experiences but have yet to be employed with this population. The present study therefore sought to use a stress and coping framework to characterize the stressors and coping behaviors of family caregivers of patients with SABI hospitalized in ICUs and recovering after coma. METHODS Our qualitative study recruited a convenience sample from 14 US neuroscience ICUs. Participants were family caregivers of patients who were admitted with ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, traumatic brain injury, or hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy; had experienced a comatose state for > 24 h; and completed or were scheduled for tracheostomy and/or gastrostomy tube placement. Participants were recruited < 7 days after transfer out of the neuroscience ICU. We conducted live online video interviews from May 2021 to January 2022. One semistructured interview per participant was recorded and subsequently transcribed. Recruitment was stopped when thematic saturation was reached. We deductively derived two domains using a stress and coping framework to guide thematic analysis. Within each domain, we inductively derived themes to comprehensively characterize caregivers' experiences. RESULTS We interviewed 30 caregivers. We identified 18 themes within the two theory-driven domains, including ten themes describing practical, social, and emotional stressors experienced by caregivers and eight themes describing the psychological and behavioral coping strategies that caregivers attempted to enact. Nearly all caregivers described using avoidance or distraction as an initial coping strategy to manage overwhelming emotions. Caregivers also expressed awareness of more adaptive strategies (e.g., cultivation of positive emotions, acceptance, self-education, and soliciting social and medical support) but had challenges employing them because of their heightened emotional distress. CONCLUSIONS In response to substantial stressors, family caregivers of patients with SABI attempted to enact various psychological and behavioral coping strategies. They described avoidance and distraction as less helpful than other coping strategies but had difficulty engaging in alternative strategies because of their emotional distress. These findings can directly inform the development of additional resources to mitigate the long-term impact of acute psychological distress among this caregiver population.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Y Hwang
- Division of Neurocritical Care, Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, 170 Manning Drive, CB# 7025, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7025, USA.
| | - Sarah M Bannon
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kate Meurer
- Division of Neurocritical Care and Emergency Neurology, Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Rina Kubota
- Division of Neurocritical Care and Emergency Neurology, Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nithyashri Baskaran
- Division of Neurocritical Care and Emergency Neurology, Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Jisoo Kim
- Division of Neurocritical Care and Emergency Neurology, Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Qiang Zhang
- David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Mira Reichman
- Department of Psychology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nathan S Fishbein
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaitlyn Lichstein
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Melissa Motta
- Program in Trauma, Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Michael E Reznik
- Department of Neurology, Alpert Medical School, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Matthew N Jaffa
- Department of Neurointensive Care, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington and Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Corey R Fehnel
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amanda D Tomlinson
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, College of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | | | - Ana-Maria Vranceanu
- Department of Psychiatry, Center for Health Outcomes and Interdisciplinary Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Abedini NC, Shulein OM, Berrú-Villalobos S, Ramírez-Quiñones J, Creutzfeldt CJ, Portocarrero J, Zunt JR, Abanto-Argomedo C. Outcomes and Experiences of Patients and Their Caregivers After Severe Stroke Requiring Tube Feeding in Peru. J Pain Symptom Manage 2024; 67:296-305. [PMID: 38215896 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2024.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Evaluate clinical outcomes of stroke survivors in Peru discharged with artificial nutrition via a feeding tube (FT), and explore perspectives and experiences of these patients and their caregivers. METHODS Retrospective chart review to describe the prevalence of FT placement and characteristics of patients admitted with stroke to the Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Neurológicas in Lima, Peru between January 2019 and 2021. Follow-up calls to stroke survivors discharged home with FTs or their caregivers included quantitative and qualitative questions to assess long-term outcome and explore perspectives around poststroke care and FT management. We analyzed quantitative data descriptively and applied thematic analysis to qualitative data using a consensus-driven codebook. RESULTS Of 812 hospitalized patients with stroke, 146 (18%) were discharged home with FT, all with nasogastric tubes (NGTs). Follow-up calls were performed a median of 18 months after stroke with 96 caregivers and three patients. Twenty-five patients (25%) had died, and 82% of survivors (n = 61) remained dependent for some care. Four themes emerged from interviews: (1) perceived suffering (physical, emotional, existential) associated with the NGT and stroke-related disability, often exacerbated by lack of preparedness or prognostic awareness; (2) concerns around compromised personhood and value-discordant care; (3) coping with their loved-one's illness and the caregiving role; and (4) barriers to NGT care and skill acquisition. CONCLUSION We identified a high burden of palliative and supportive needs among severe stroke survivors with NGTs and their caregivers suggesting opportunities to improve poststroke care through education, communication, and support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nauzley C Abedini
- Department of Medicine (N.C.A.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine (N.C.A., C.J.C.), Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Orli M Shulein
- Department of Rehabilitation (O.M.S.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine (N.C.A., C.J.C.), Seattle, Washington, USA; Department of Neurology (C.J.C.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
| | - Jill Portocarrero
- CRONICAS Center of Excellence in Chronic Diseases (J.P.), Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
| | - Joseph R Zunt
- Departments of Neurology and Global Health (J.R.Z.), University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Miles NL, Abedini NC, Harris MH, Engelberg RA, Kross EK, Creutzfeldt CJ. Goals-of-Care Conversations After Stroke Survival. Stroke 2024; 55:e44-e45. [PMID: 38189121 PMCID: PMC10922777 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.123.046119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Nancy L. Miles
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Nauzley C. Abedini
- University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine, Seattle WA
| | - Mark H. Harris
- University of California, Irvine School of Medicine, Irvine, CA
| | - Ruth A. Engelberg
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine, Seattle WA
- University of Washington Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Erin K. Kross
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine, Seattle WA
- University of Washington Department of Medicine, Seattle, WA
| | - Claire J. Creutzfeldt
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine, Seattle WA
- University of Washington Department of Neurology, Seattle, WA
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Kruser JM, Ashana DC, Courtright KR, Kross EK, Neville TH, Rubin E, Schenker Y, Sullivan DR, Thornton JD, Viglianti EM, Costa DK, Creutzfeldt CJ, Detsky ME, Engel HJ, Grover N, Hope AA, Katz JN, Kohn R, Miller AG, Nabozny MJ, Nelson JE, Shanawani H, Stevens JP, Turnbull AE, Weiss CH, Wirpsa MJ, Cox CE. Defining the Time-limited Trial for Patients with Critical Illness: An Official American Thoracic Society Workshop Report. Ann Am Thorac Soc 2024; 21:187-199. [PMID: 38063572 PMCID: PMC10848901 DOI: 10.1513/annalsats.202310-925st] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
In critical care, the specific, structured approach to patient care known as a "time-limited trial" has been promoted in the literature to help patients, surrogate decision makers, and clinicians navigate consequential decisions about life-sustaining therapy in the face of uncertainty. Despite promotion of the time-limited trial approach, a lack of consensus about its definition and essential elements prevents optimal clinical use and rigorous evaluation of its impact. The objectives of this American Thoracic Society Workshop Committee were to establish a consensus definition of a time-limited trial in critical care, identify the essential elements for conducting a time-limited trial, and prioritize directions for future work. We achieved these objectives through a structured search of the literature, a modified Delphi process with 100 interdisciplinary and interprofessional stakeholders, and iterative committee discussions. We conclude that a time-limited trial for patients with critical illness is a collaborative plan among clinicians and a patient and/or their surrogate decision makers to use life-sustaining therapy for a defined duration, after which the patient's response to therapy informs the decision to continue care directed toward recovery, transition to care focused exclusively on comfort, or extend the trial's duration. The plan's 16 essential elements follow four sequential phases: consider, plan, support, and reassess. We acknowledge considerable gaps in evidence about the impact of time-limited trials and highlight a concern that if inadequately implemented, time-limited trials may perpetuate unintended harm. Future work is needed to better implement this defined, specific approach to care in practice through a person-centered equity lens and to evaluate its impact on patients, surrogates, and clinicians.
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de Havenon A, Skolarus LE, Mac Grory B, Bangad A, Sheth KN, Burke JF, Creutzfeldt CJ. National- and State-Level Trends in Medicare Hospice Beneficiaries for Stroke During 2013 to 2019 in the United States. Stroke 2024; 55:131-138. [PMID: 38063013 PMCID: PMC10752263 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.123.045021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States, one of the leading contributors to Medicare cost, including through Medicare hospice benefits, and the rate of stroke mortality has been increasing since 2013. We hypothesized that hospice utilization among Medicare beneficiaries with stroke has increased over time and that the increase is associated with trends in stroke death rate. METHODS Using Medicare Part A claims data and Centers for Disease Control mortality data at a national and state level from 2013 to 2019, we report the proportion and count of Medicare hospice beneficiaries with stroke as well as the stroke death rate (per 100 000) in Medicare-eligible individuals aged ≥65 years. RESULTS From 2013 to 2019, the number of Medicare hospice beneficiaries with stroke as their primary diagnosis increased 104.1% from 78 812 to 160 884. The number of stroke deaths in the United States in individuals aged ≥65 years also increased from 109 602 in 2013 to 129 193 in 2019 (17.9% increase). In 2013, stroke was the sixth most common primary diagnosis for Medicare hospice, while in 2019 it was the third most common, surpassed only by cancer and dementia. The correlation between the change from 2013 to 2019 in state-level Medicare hospice for stroke and stroke death rate for Medicare-eligible adults was significant (Spearman ρ=0.5; P<0.001). In a mixed-effects model, the variance in the state-level proportion of Medicare hospice for stroke explained by the state-level stroke death rate was 48.2%. CONCLUSIONS From 2013 to 2019, the number of Medicare hospice beneficiaries with a primary diagnosis of stroke more than doubled and stroke jumped from the sixth most common indication for hospice to the third most common. While increases in stroke mortality in the Medicare-eligible population accounts for some of the increase of Medicare hospice beneficiaries, over half the variance remains unexplained and requires additional research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam de Havenon
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain & Mind Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT (A.d.H., A.B., K.N.S.)
| | - Lesli E Skolarus
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL (L.E.S.)
| | - Brian Mac Grory
- Department of Neurology, Duke University, Durham, NC (B.M.G.)
| | - Aaron Bangad
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain & Mind Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT (A.d.H., A.B., K.N.S.)
| | - Kevin N Sheth
- Department of Neurology, Center for Brain & Mind Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT (A.d.H., A.B., K.N.S.)
| | - James F Burke
- Department of Neurology, Ohio State University, Columbus (J.F.B.)
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10
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Chang VA, Tirschwell DL, Becker KJ, Schubert GB, Longstreth WT, Creutzfeldt CJ. Associations Between Measures of Disability and Quality of Life at Three Months After Stroke. J Palliat Med 2024; 27:18-23. [PMID: 37585623 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2023.0061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: The modified Rankin Scale (mRS), which measures degree of disability in daily activities, is the most common outcome measure in stroke research. Quality of life (QoL), however, is impacted by factors other than disability. The goal of this study was to assess the correlation between functional dependence and a more patient-centered QoL measure, the European QoL visual analog scale (EQ VAS). Methods: We reviewed prehospital and hospital records from 11 acute care hospitals in Seattle, Washington (USA) from June 2000 to January 2003 for this cohort study. Patients with a final diagnosis of stroke were contacted three to four months after stroke, and mRS and EQ VAS were assessed. Good QoL was defined as EQ VAS ≥65. Results: Of 760 patients with stroke, 346 were available at three to four months. Most (296, 85.5%) had ischemic stroke. Overall, mRS and QoL were negatively correlated (Spearman's ρ -0.53, p < 0.001). Percentage of good QoL decreased as mRS increased from 0 to 5 (88%, 70%, 52%, 50%, 31%, 20%, respectively, p < 0.001). However, 36% (n = 62) of patients with dependent mRS (3-5, n = 174) reported good QoL, and 30% (n = 52) of patients with independent mRS (0-2, n = 172) reported poor QoL. In multivariable analysis, older age, male gender, and absence of dementia, were associated with good QoL despite dependent mRS; atrial fibrillation was associated with poor QoL despite independent mRS. Conclusions: QoL decreases with increasing mRS, but exceptions exist with good QoL despite high mRS. To provide patient-centered care, clinicians and researchers should avoid equating disability with QoL after stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria A Chang
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David L Tirschwell
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Kyra J Becker
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Glenn B Schubert
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Will T Longstreth
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- UW Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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11
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Busl KM, Fried H, Muehlschlegel S, Wartenberg KE, Rajajee V, Alexander SA, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fontaine GV, Hocker SE, Hwang DY, Kim KS, Madzar D, Mahanes D, Mainali S, Meixensberger J, Sakowitz OW, Varelas PN, Westermaier T, Weimar C. Author Correction: Guidelines for Neuroprognostication in Adults with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Neurocrit Care 2023; 39:752. [PMID: 37726550 PMCID: PMC10689509 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01830-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina M Busl
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Herbert Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology, and Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Gabriel V Fontaine
- Departments of Pharmacy and Neurosciences, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sara E Hocker
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David Y Hwang
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Keri S Kim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dominik Madzar
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dea Mahanes
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shraddha Mainali
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Oliver W Sakowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Center Ludwigsburg-Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Christian Weimar
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen and BDH-Clinic Elzach, Essen, Germany.
- BDH-Clinic Elzach, Elzach, Germany.
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12
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Jaffa MN, Kirsch HL, Creutzfeldt CJ, Guanci M, Hwang DY, LeTavec D, Mahanes D, Natarajan G, Steinberg A, Zahuranec DB, Muehlschlegel S. Common Data Elements for Disorders of Consciousness: Recommendations from the Working Group on Goals-of-Care and Family/Surrogate Decision-Maker Data. Neurocrit Care 2023; 39:600-610. [PMID: 37704937 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01796-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To facilitate comparative research, it is essential for the fields of neurocritical care and rehabilitation to establish common data elements (CDEs) for disorders of consciousness (DoC). Our objective was to identify CDEs related to goals-of-care decisions and family/surrogate decision-making for patients with DoC. METHODS To achieve this, we formed nine CDE working groups as part of the Neurocritical Care Society's Curing Coma Campaign. Our working group focused on goals-of-care decisions and family/surrogate decision-makers created five subgroups: (1) clinical variables of surrogates, (2) psychological distress of surrogates, (3) decision-making quality, (4) quality of communication, and (5) quality of end-of-life care. Each subgroup searched for existing relevant CDEs in the National Institutes of Health/CDE catalog and conducted an extensive literature search for additional relevant study instruments to be recommended. We classified each CDE according to the standard definitions of "core", "basic", "exploratory", or "supplemental", as well as their use for studying the acute or chronic phase of DoC, or both. RESULTS We identified 32 relevant preexisting National Institutes of Health CDEs across all subgroups. A total of 34 new instruments were added across all subgroups. Only one CDE was recommended as disease core, the "mode of death" of the patient from the clinical variables subgroup. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide valuable CDEs specific to goals-of-care decisions and family/surrogate decision-making for patients with DoC that can be used to standardize studies to generate high-quality and reproducible research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew N Jaffa
- Department of Neurology, Ayer Neuroscience Institute, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Hannah L Kirsch
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, 453 Quarry Road, MC 5235, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Division of Stroke and Palliative Care, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Mary Guanci
- Department of Neuroscience Nursing, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Y Hwang
- Division of Neurocritical Care, Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | | | - Dea Mahanes
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, UVA Health, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Girija Natarajan
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Alexis Steinberg
- Department of Neurology, Critical Care Medicine, and Emergency Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Darin B Zahuranec
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology/Critical Care and Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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13
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Lewis A, Young MJ, Rohaut B, Jox RJ, Claassen J, Creutzfeldt CJ, Illes J, Kirschen M, Trevick S, Fins JJ. Ethics Along the Continuum of Research Involving Persons with Disorders of Consciousness. Neurocrit Care 2023; 39:565-577. [PMID: 36977963 PMCID: PMC11023737 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01708-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
Abstract
Interest in disorders of consciousness (DoC) has grown substantially over the past decade and has illuminated the importance of improving understanding of DoC biology; care needs (use of monitoring, performance of interventions, and provision of emotional support); treatment options to promote recovery; and outcome prediction. Exploration of these topics requires awareness of numerous ethics considerations related to rights and resources. The Curing Coma Campaign Ethics Working Group used its expertise in neurocritical care, neuropalliative care, neuroethics, neuroscience, philosophy, and research to formulate an informal review of ethics considerations along the continuum of research involving persons with DoC related to the following: (1) study design; (2) comparison of risks versus benefits; (3) selection of inclusion and exclusion criteria; (4) screening, recruitment, and enrollment; (5) consent; (6) data protection; (7) disclosure of results to surrogates and/or legally authorized representatives; (8) translation of research into practice; (9) identification and management of conflicts of interest; (10) equity and resource availability; and (11) inclusion of minors with DoC in research. Awareness of these ethics considerations when planning and performing research involving persons with DoC will ensure that the participant rights are respected while maximizing the impact and meaningfulness of the research, interpretation of outcomes, and communication of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariane Lewis
- NYU Langone Medical Center, 530 First Avenue, Skirball-7R, New York, NY, 10016, USA.
| | - Michael J Young
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin Rohaut
- Inserm, CNRS, APHP - Hôpital de la Pitié Salpêtrière, Paris Brain Institute - ICM, DMU Neuroscience, Sorbonne University, Paris, France
| | - Ralf J Jox
- Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Jan Claassen
- New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA
- University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Judy Illes
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | - Joseph J Fins
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
- Yale Law School, New Haven, CT, USA
- Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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14
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Ramsburg H, Creutzfeldt CJ. Integrating Palliative Care into the Neurointensive Care Unit. Neurocrit Care 2023; 39:555-556. [PMID: 37173561 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01739-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Ramsburg
- M. Louise Fitzpatrick College of Nursing, Villanova University, Villanova, PA, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center and University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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15
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Creutzfeldt CJ, Abedini NC, Holloway RG. Neuropalliative Care for Stroke Providers. Stroke 2023; 54:e485-e487. [PMID: 37814954 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.123.040431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/11/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology (C.J.C.), University of Washington, Seattle
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (C.J.C., N.C.A.), University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Nauzley C Abedini
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (C.J.C., N.C.A.), University of Washington, Seattle
- Department of Medicine (N.C.A.), University of Washington, Seattle
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16
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Pokrzywa CJ, Al Tannir AH, Sparapani R, Rabas MS, Holena D, Murphy PB, Creutzfeldt CJ, Somberg L, Nattinger A, Morris RS. The Variation of Withdrawal of Life Sustaining Therapy in Older Adults With Traumatic Brain Injury. J Surg Res 2023; 291:34-42. [PMID: 37331190 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2023.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The decision to withdraw life sustaining treatment (WDLST) in older adults with traumatic brain injury is subject to wide variability leading to nonbeneficial interventions and unnecessary use of hospital resources. We hypothesized that patient and hospital factors are associated with WDLST and WDLST timing. METHODS All traumatic brain injury patients ≥65 with Glasgow coma scores (GCS) of 4-11 from 2018 to 2019 at level I and II centers were selected from the National Trauma Data Bank. Patients with head abbreviated injury scores 5-6 or death within 24 h were excluded. Bayesian additive regression tree analysis was performed to identify the cumulative incidence function (CIF) and the relative risks (RR) over time for withdrawal of care, discharge to hospice (DH), and death. Death alone (no WDLST or DH) served as the comparator group for all analyses. A subanalysis of the composite outcome WDLST/DH (defined as end-of-life-care), with death (no WDLST or DH) as a comparator cohort was performed. RESULTS We included 2126 patients, of whom 1957 (57%) underwent WDLST, 402 (19%) died, and 469 (22%) were DH. 60% of patients were male, and the mean age was 80 y. The majority of patients were injured by fall (76%, n = 1644). Patients who were DH were more often female (51% DH versus 39% WDLST), had a past medical history of dementia (45% DH versus 18% WDLST), and had lower admission injury severity score (14 DH versus 18.6 WDLST) (P < 0.001). Compared to those who DH, those who underwent WDLST had a lower GCS (9.8 versus 8.4, P < 0.001). CIF of WDSLT and DH increased with age, stabilizing by day 3. At day 3, patients ≥90 y had an increased RR of DH compared to WDLST (RR 2.5 versus 1.4). As GCS increased, CIF and RR of WDLST decreased, while CIF and RR of DH increased (RR on day 3 for GCS 12: WDLST 0.42 versus DH 1.31).Patients at nonprofit institutions were more likely to undergo WDLST (RR 1.15) compared to DH (0.68). Compared to patients of White race, patients of Black race had a lower RR of WDLST at all timepoints. CONCLUSIONS Patient and hospital factors influence the practice of end-of-life-care (WDLST, DH, and death), highlighting the need to better understand variability to target palliative care interventions and standardize care across populations and trauma centers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rodney Sparapani
- Division of Biostatistics, Department of Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Mackenzie S Rabas
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Daniel Holena
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Patrick B Murphy
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | | | - Lewis Somberg
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Ann Nattinger
- Department of Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Rachel S Morris
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
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17
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Miranda SP, Morris RS, Rabas M, Creutzfeldt CJ, Cooper Z. Early Shared Decision-Making for Older Adults with Traumatic Brain Injury: Using Time-Limited Trials and Understanding Their Limitations. Neurocrit Care 2023; 39:284-293. [PMID: 37349599 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01764-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Older adults account for a disproportionate share of the morbidity and mortality after traumatic brain injury (TBI). Predicting functional and cognitive outcomes for individual older adults after TBI is challenging in the acute phase of injury. Given that neurologic recovery is possible and uncertain, life-sustaining therapy may be pursued initially, even if for some, there is a risk of survival to an undesired level of disability or dependence. Experts recommend early conversations about goals of care after TBI, but evidence-based guidelines for these discussions or for the optimal method for communicating prognosis are limited. The time-limited trial (TLT) model may be an effective strategy for managing prognostic uncertainty after TBI. TLTs can provide a framework for early management: specific treatments or procedures are used for a defined period of time while monitoring for an agreed-upon outcome. Outcome measures, including signs of worsening and improvement, are defined at the outset of the trial. In this Viewpoint article, we discuss the use of TLTs for older adults with TBI, their potential benefits, and current challenges to their application. Three main barriers limit the implementation of TLTs in these scenarios: inadequate models for prognostication; cognitive biases faced by clinicians and surrogate decision-makers, which may contribute to prognostic discordance; and ambiguity regarding appropriate endpoints for the TLT. Further study is needed to understand clinician behaviors and surrogate preferences for prognostic communication and how to optimally integrate TLTs into the care of older adults with TBI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Miranda
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, 15 South Tower, 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
| | - Rachel S Morris
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Mackenzie Rabas
- Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | | | - Zara Cooper
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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18
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Albert GP, McHugh DC, Hwang DY, Creutzfeldt CJ, Holloway RG, George BP. National Cost Estimates of Invasive Mechanical Ventilation and Tracheostomy in Acute Stroke, 2008-2017. Stroke 2023; 54:2602-2612. [PMID: 37706340 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.123.043176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with stroke receiving invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) and tracheostomy incur intense treatment and long hospitalizations. We aimed to evaluate US hospitalization costs for patients with stroke requiring IMV, tracheostomy, or no ventilation. METHODS We performed a retrospective observational study of US hospitalizations for acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, and subarachnoid hemorrhage receiving IMV, tracheostomy, or none using the National Inpatient Sample, 2008 to 2017. We calculated hospitalization costs using cost-to-charge ratios adjusted to 2017 US dollars for inpatients with stroke by ventilation status (no IMV, IMV alone, tracheostomy). RESULTS Of an estimated 5.2 million (95% CI, 5.1-5.3) acute stroke hospitalizations, 2008 to 2017; 9.4% received IMV alone and 1.4% received tracheostomy. Length of stay for patients without IMV was shorter (median, 4 days; interquartile range [IQR], 2-6) compared with IMV alone (median, 6 days; [IQR, 2-13]), and tracheostomy (median, 25 days; [IQR, 18-36]; P<0.001). Mortality for patients without IMV was 3.2% compared with 51.2% for IMV alone and 9.8% for tracheostomy (P<0.001). Median hospitalization costs for patients without IMV was $9503 (IQR, $6544-$14 963), compared with $23 774 (IQR, $10 900-$47 735) for IMV alone and $95 380 (IQR, $63 921-$144 019) for tracheostomy. Tracheostomy placement in ≤7 days had lower costs compared with placement in >7 days (median, $71 470 [IQR, $47 863-$108 250] versus $102 979 [IQR, $69 563-$152 543]; P<0.001). Each day awaiting tracheostomy was associated with a 2.9% cost increase (95% CI, 2.6%-3.1%). US hospitalization costs for patients with acute stroke were $8.7 billion/y (95% CI, $8.5-$8.9 billion). For IMV alone, costs were $1.8 billion/y (95% CI, $1.7-$1.9 billion) and for tracheostomy $824 million/y (95% CI, $789.7-$858.3 million). CONCLUSIONS Patients with acute stroke who undergo tracheostomy account for 1.4% of stroke admissions and 9.5% of US stroke hospitalization costs. Future research should focus on the added value to society and patients of IMV and tracheostomy, in particular after 7 days for the latter procedure given the increased costs incurred and poor outcomes in stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- George P Albert
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY (G.P.A., D.C.M., R.G.H., B.P.G.)
| | - Daryl C McHugh
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY (G.P.A., D.C.M., R.G.H., B.P.G.)
| | - David Y Hwang
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill (D.Y.H.)
| | | | - Robert G Holloway
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY (G.P.A., D.C.M., R.G.H., B.P.G.)
| | - Benjamin P George
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, NY (G.P.A., D.C.M., R.G.H., B.P.G.)
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19
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Kluger BM, Hudson P, Hanson LC, Bužgovà R, Creutzfeldt CJ, Gursahani R, Sumrall M, White C, Oliver DJ, Pantilat SZ, Miyasaki J. Palliative care to support the needs of adults with neurological disease. Lancet Neurol 2023; 22:619-631. [PMID: 37353280 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(23)00129-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/25/2023]
Abstract
Neurological diseases cause physical, psychosocial, and spiritual or existential suffering from the time of their diagnosis. Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life for people with serious illness and their families by addressing this multidimensional suffering. Evidence from clinical trials supports the ability of palliative care to improve patient and caregiver outcomes by the use of outpatient or home-based palliative care interventions for people with motor neuron disease, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson's disease; inpatient palliative care consultations for people with advanced dementia; telephone-based case management for people with dementia in the community; and nurse-led discussions with decision aids for people with advanced dementia in long-term care. Unfortunately, most people with neurological diseases do not get the support that they need for their palliative care under current standards of healthcare. Improving this situation requires the deployment of routine screening to identify individual palliative care needs, the integration of palliative care approaches into routine neurological care, and collaboration between neurologists and palliative care specialists. Research, education, and advocacy are also needed to raise standards of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benzi M Kluger
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
| | - Peter Hudson
- The University of Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia; St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Fitzroy, VIC, Australia; Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussel, Belgium
| | - Laura C Hanson
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Radka Bužgovà
- Department of Nursing and Midwifery, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ostrava, Ostrava, Czech Republic
| | | | - Roop Gursahani
- Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Malenna Sumrall
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Charles White
- University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA
| | | | - Steven Z Pantilat
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
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20
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES In the early phase of severe acute brain injury (SABI), surrogate decision-makers must make treatment decisions in the face of prognostic uncertainty. Evidence-based strategies to communicate uncertainty and support decision-making are lacking. Our objective was to better understand surrogate experiences and needs during the period of active decision-making in SABI, to inform interventions to support SABI patients and families and improve clinician-surrogate communication. DESIGN We interviewed surrogate decision-makers during patients' acute hospitalization for SABI, as part of a larger ( n = 222) prospective longitudinal cohort study of patients with SABI and their family members. Constructivist grounded theory informed data collection and analysis. SETTING One U.S. academic medical center. PATIENTS We iteratively collected and analyzed semistructured interviews with 22 surrogates for 19 patients. INTERVENTIONS None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS Through several rounds of coding, interview notes, reflexive memos, and group discussion, we developed a thematic model describing the relationship between surrogate perspectives on decision-making and surrogate experiences of prognostic uncertainty. Patients ranged from 20 to 79 years of age (mean = 55 years) and had primary diagnoses of stroke ( n = 13; 68%), traumatic brain injury ( n = 5; 26%), and anoxic brain injury after cardiac arrest ( n = 1; 5%). Patients were predominantly male ( n = 12; 63%), whereas surrogates were predominantly female ( n = 13; 68%). Two distinct perspectives on decision-making emerged: one group of surrogates felt a clear sense of agency around decision-making, whereas the other group reported a more passive role in decision-making, such that they did not even perceive there being a decision to make. Surrogates in both groups identified prognostic uncertainty as the central challenge in SABI, but they managed it differently. Only surrogates who felt they were actively deciding described time-limited trials as helpful. CONCLUSIONS In this qualitative study, not all surrogate "decision-makers" viewed themselves as making decisions. Nearly all struggled with prognostic uncertainty. Our findings underline the need for longitudinal prognostic communication strategies in SABI targeted at surrogates' current perspectives on decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline L Goss
- Division of Neurology, Department of Internal Medicine, Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA
| | - Rachel Rutz Voumard
- Department of Medicine, Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Clinical Ethics Unit, Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Ruth A Engelberg
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
| | - J Randall Curtis
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
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21
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Jaffa MN, Kirsch HL, Creutzfeldt CJ, Guanci M, Hwang DY, LeTavec D, Mahanes D, Steinberg A, Natarajan G, Zahuranec DB, Muehlschlegel S. Common Data Elements for Disorders of Consciousness: Recommendations from the Working Group on Goals-of-care and Family/Surrogate Decision-Maker Data. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-3084539. [PMID: 37461521 PMCID: PMC10350109 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3084539/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In order to facilitate comparative research, it is essential for the fields of neurocritical care and rehabilitation to establish common data elements (CDE) for disorders of consciousness (DoC). Our objective was to identify CDEs related to goals-of-care decisions and family/surrogate decision-making for patients with DoC. METHODS To achieve this, we formed nine CDE working groups as part of the Neurocritical Care Society's Curing Coma Campaign. Our working group focused on goals-of-care decisions and family/surrogate decision-makers created five subgroups: (1) clinical variables of surrogates, (2) psychological distress of surrogates, (3) decision-making quality, (4) quality of communication, and (5) quality of end-of-life care. Each subgroup searched for existing relevant CDEs in the NIH/CDE catalog and conducted an extensive literature search for additional relevant study instruments to be recommended. We classified each CDE according to the standard definitions of "core," "basic," "exploratory," or "supplemental," as well as their utility for studying the acute or chronic phase of DoC, or both. RESULTS We identified 32 relevant pre-existing NIH CDEs across all subgroups. A total of 34 new instruments were added across all subgroups. Only one CDE was recommended as disease core, the "mode of death" of the patient from the clinical variables subgroup. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide valuable CDEs specific to goals-of-care decisions and family/surrogate decision-making for patients with DoC that can be used to standardize studies to generate high-quality and reproducible research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - David Y Hwang
- The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
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22
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Rajajee V, Muehlschlegel S, Wartenberg KE, Alexander SA, Busl KM, Chou SHY, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fontaine GV, Fried H, Hocker SE, Hwang DY, Kim KS, Madzar D, Mahanes D, Mainali S, Meixensberger J, Montellano F, Sakowitz OW, Weimar C, Westermaier T, Varelas PN. Guidelines for Neuroprognostication in Comatose Adult Survivors of Cardiac Arrest. Neurocrit Care 2023; 38:533-563. [PMID: 36949360 PMCID: PMC10241762 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01688-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among cardiac arrest survivors, about half remain comatose 72 h following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Prognostication of poor neurological outcome in this population may result in withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy and death. The objective of this article is to provide recommendations on the reliability of select clinical predictors that serve as the basis of neuroprognostication and provide guidance to clinicians counseling surrogates of comatose cardiac arrest survivors. METHODS A narrative systematic review was completed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Candidate predictors, which included clinical variables and prediction models, were selected based on clinical relevance and the presence of an appropriate body of evidence. The Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Timing, Setting (PICOTS) question was framed as follows: "When counseling surrogates of comatose adult survivors of cardiac arrest, should [predictor, with time of assessment if appropriate] be considered a reliable predictor of poor functional outcome assessed at 3 months or later?" Additional full-text screening criteria were used to exclude small and lower-quality studies. Following construction of the evidence profile and summary of findings, recommendations were based on four GRADE criteria: quality of evidence, balance of desirable and undesirable consequences, values and preferences, and resource use. In addition, good practice recommendations addressed essential principles of neuroprognostication that could not be framed in PICOTS format. RESULTS Eleven candidate clinical variables and three prediction models were selected based on clinical relevance and the presence of an appropriate body of literature. A total of 72 articles met our eligibility criteria to guide recommendations. Good practice recommendations include waiting 72 h following ROSC/rewarming prior to neuroprognostication, avoiding sedation or other confounders, the use of multimodal assessment, and an extended period of observation for awakening in patients with an indeterminate prognosis, if consistent with goals of care. The bilateral absence of pupillary light response > 72 h from ROSC and the bilateral absence of N20 response on somatosensory evoked potential testing were identified as reliable predictors. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain > 48 h from ROSC and electroencephalography > 72 h from ROSC were identified as moderately reliable predictors. CONCLUSIONS These guidelines provide recommendations on the reliability of predictors of poor outcome in the context of counseling surrogates of comatose survivors of cardiac arrest and suggest broad principles of neuroprognostication. Few predictors were considered reliable or moderately reliable based on the available body of evidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venkatakrishna Rajajee
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, 3552 Taubman Health Care Center, SPC 5338, University of Michigan, 1500 E. Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-5338, USA.
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology, and Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Katharina M Busl
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sherry H Y Chou
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Gabriel V Fontaine
- Departments of Pharmacy and Neurosciences, Intermountain Healthcare, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Herbert Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Sara E Hocker
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David Y Hwang
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Keri S Kim
- Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dominik Madzar
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dea Mahanes
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shraddha Mainali
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | | | - Oliver W Sakowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Center Ludwigsburg-Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | - Christian Weimar
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
- BDH-Clinic Elzach, Elzach, Germany
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23
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Busl KM, Fried H, Muehlschlegel S, Wartenberg KE, Rajajee V, Alexander SA, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fontaine GV, Hocker SE, Hwang DY, Kim KS, Madzar D, Mahanes D, Mainali S, Meixensberger J, Sakowitz OW, Varelas PN, Westermaier T, Weimar C. Guidelines for Neuroprognostication in Adults with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Neurocrit Care 2023; 38:564-583. [PMID: 36964442 PMCID: PMC10241707 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01707-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) often carries a favorable prognosis. Of adult patients with GBS, 10-30% require mechanical ventilation during the acute phase of the disease. After the acute phase, the focus shifts to restoration of motor strength, ambulation, and neurological function, with variable speed and degree of recovery. The objective of these guidelines is to provide recommendations on the reliability of select clinical predictors that serve as the basis of neuroprognostication and provide guidance to clinicians counseling adult patients with GBS and/or their surrogates. METHODS A narrative systematic review was completed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Candidate predictors, including clinical variables and prediction models, were selected based on clinical relevance and presence of appropriate body of evidence. The Population/Intervention/Comparator/Outcome/Time frame/Setting (PICOTS) question was framed as follows: "When counseling patients or surrogates of critically ill patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome, should [predictor, with time of assessment if appropriate] be considered a reliable predictor of [outcome, with time frame of assessment]?" Additional full-text screening criteria were used to exclude small and lower quality studies. Following construction of an evidence profile and summary of findings, recommendations were based on four GRADE criteria: quality of evidence, balance of desirable and undesirable consequences, values and preferences, and resource use. In addition, good practice recommendations addressed essential principles of neuroprognostication that could not be framed in PICOTS format. RESULTS Eight candidate clinical variables and six prediction models were selected. A total of 45 articles met our eligibility criteria to guide recommendations. We recommend bulbar weakness (the degree of motor weakness at disease nadir) and the Erasmus GBS Respiratory Insufficiency Score as moderately reliable for prediction of the need for mechanical ventilation. The Erasmus GBS Outcome Score (EGOS) and modified EGOS were identified as moderately reliable predictors of independent ambulation at 3 months and beyond. Good practice recommendations include consideration of both acute and recovery phases of the disease during prognostication, discussion of the possible need for mechanical ventilation and enteral nutrition during counseling, and consideration of the complete clinical condition as opposed to a single variable during prognostication. CONCLUSIONS These guidelines provide recommendations on the reliability of predictors of the need for mechanical ventilation, poor functional outcome, and independent ambulation following GBS in the context of counseling patients and/or surrogates and suggest broad principles of neuroprognostication. Few predictors were considered moderately reliable based on the available body of evidence, and higher quality data are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina M Busl
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Herbert Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology, and Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Gabriel V Fontaine
- Departments of Pharmacy and Neurosciences, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sara E Hocker
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David Y Hwang
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Keri S Kim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dominik Madzar
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dea Mahanes
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shraddha Mainali
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Oliver W Sakowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Center Ludwigsburg-Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Christian Weimar
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen and BDH-Clinic Elzach, Essen, Germany.
- BDH-Clinic Elzach, Elzach, Germany.
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24
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Busl KM, Fried H, Muehlschlegel S, Wartenberg KE, Rajajee V, Alexander SA, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fontaine GV, Hocker SE, Hwang DY, Kim KS, Madzar D, Mahanes D, Mainali S, Meixensberger J, Sakowitz OW, Varelas PN, Westermaier T, Weimar C. Correction to: Guidelines for Neuroprognostication in Adults with Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Neurocrit Care 2023:10.1007/s12028-023-01726-0. [PMID: 37100978 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-023-01726-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Katharina M Busl
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Herbert Fried
- Department of Neurosurgery, Denver Health Medical Center, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Susanne Muehlschlegel
- Departments of Neurology, Anesthesiology, and Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Gabriel V Fontaine
- Departments of Pharmacy and Neurosciences, Intermountain Health, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Sara E Hocker
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David Y Hwang
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Keri S Kim
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Illinois, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Dominik Madzar
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dea Mahanes
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - Shraddha Mainali
- Department of Neurology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | | | - Oliver W Sakowitz
- Department of Neurosurgery, Neurosurgery Center Ludwigsburg-Heilbronn, Ludwigsburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Christian Weimar
- Institute of Medical Informatics, Biometry, and Epidemiology, University Hospital Essen, Essen and BDH-Clinic Elzach, ,Essen, Germany.
- BDH-Clinic Elzach, Elzach, Germany.
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25
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Plinke WV, Buchbinder SA, Brumback LC, Longstreth WT, Kiker WA, Holloway RG, Engelberg RA, Curtis JR, Creutzfeldt CJ. Identification of Palliative Care Needs and Mental Health Outcomes Among Family Members of Patients With Severe Acute Brain Injury. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e239949. [PMID: 37097633 PMCID: PMC10130947 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.9949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance Family members of patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) are at risk for poor psychological outcomes. Objective To explore the utility of the early use of a palliative care needs checklist in identifying care needs of patients with SABI and family members who are at risk of poor psychological outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants This prospective cohort study included patients with SABI in an intensive care unit (ICU) for 2 days or more and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 or lower and their family members. This single-center study was conducted at an academic hospital in Seattle, Washington, from January 2018 to June 2021. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to July 2022. Exposure At enrollment, a 4-item palliative care needs checklist was completed separately by clinicians and family members. Main Outcomes and Measures A single family member for each enrolled patient completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression and anxiety, perception of goal-concordant care, and satisfaction in the ICU. Six months later, family members assessed their psychological symptoms, decisional regret, patient functional outcome, and patient quality of life (QOL). Results A total of 209 patient-family member pairs (family member mean [SD] age, 51 [16] years; 133 women [64%]; 18 Asian [9%], 21 Black [10%], 20 [10%] Hispanic, and 153 White [73%] participants) were included. Patients had experienced stroke (126 [60%]), traumatic brain injury (62 [30%]), and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (21 [10%]). At least 1 need was identified for 185 patients or their families (88%) by family members and 110 (53%) by clinicians (κ = -0.007; 52% agreement). Symptoms of at least moderate anxiety or depression were present in 50% of family members at enrollment (87 with anxiety and 94 with depression) and 20% at follow-up (33 with anxiety and 29 with depression). After adjustment for patient age, diagnosis, and disease severity and family race and ethnicity, clinician identification of any need was associated with greater goal discordance (203 participants; relative risk = 1.7 [95% CI, 1.2 to 2.5]) and family decisional regret (144 participants; difference in means, 17 [95% CI, 5 to 29] points). Family member identification of any need was associated with greater symptoms of depression at follow-up (150 participants; difference in means of Patient Health Questionnaire-2, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.2 to 1.3] points) and worse perceived patient QOL (78 participants; difference in means, -17.1 [95% CI, -33.6 to -0.5] points). Conclusions and Relevance In this prospective cohort study of patients with SABI and their families, palliative care needs were common, although agreement on needs was poor between clinicians and family members. A palliative care needs checklist completed by clinicians and family members may improve communication and promote timely, targeted management of needs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - W T Longstreth
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Whitney A Kiker
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Robert G Holloway
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
| | - Ruth A Engelberg
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - J Randall Curtis
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence at UW Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
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26
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Rosa WE, Izumi S, Sullivan DR, Lakin J, Rosenberg AR, Creutzfeldt CJ, Lafond D, Tjia J, Cotter V, Wallace C, Sloan DE, Cruz-Oliver DM, DeSanto-Madeya S, Bernacki R, Leblanc TW, Epstein AS. Advance Care Planning in Serious Illness: A Narrative Review. J Pain Symptom Manage 2023; 65:e63-e78. [PMID: 36028176 PMCID: PMC9884468 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Advance care planning (ACP) intends to support person-centered medical decision-making by eliciting patient preferences. Research has not identified significant associations between ACP and goal-concordant end-of-life care, leading to justified scientific debate regarding ACP utility. OBJECTIVE To delineate ACP's potential benefits and missed opportunities and identify an evidence-informed, clinically relevant path ahead for ACP in serious illness. METHODS We conducted a narrative review merging the best available ACP empirical data, grey literature, and emergent scholarly discourse using a snowball search of PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar (2000-2022). Findings were informed by our team's interprofessional clinical and research expertise in serious illness care. RESULTS Early ACP practices were largely tied to mandated document completion, potentially failing to capture the holistic preferences of patients and surrogates. ACP models focused on serious illness communication rather than documentation show promising patient and clinician results. Ideally, ACP would lead to goal-concordant care even amid the unpredictability of serious illness trajectories. But ACP might also provide a false sense of security that patients' wishes will be honored and revisited at end-of-life. An iterative, 'building block' framework to integrate ACP throughout serious illness is provided alongside clinical practice, research, and policy recommendations. CONCLUSIONS We advocate a balanced approach to ACP, recognizing empirical deficits while acknowledging potential benefits and ethical imperatives (e.g., fostering clinician-patient trust and shared decision-making). We support prioritizing patient/surrogate-centered outcomes with more robust measures to account for interpersonal clinician-patient variables that likely inform ACP efficacy and may better evaluate information gleaned during serious illness encounters.
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Affiliation(s)
- William E Rosa
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (W.E.R.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York.
| | - Shigeko Izumi
- School of Nursing (S.I.), Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Donald R Sullivan
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (D.R.S.), School of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon
| | - Joshua Lakin
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care (J.L., R.B.), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics (A.R.R.), University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington; Palliative Care and Resilience Lab (A.R.R.), Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington
| | | | - Debbie Lafond
- Pediatric and Neonatal Needs Advanced (PANDA) Education Consultants (D.L.)
| | - Jennifer Tjia
- Chan Medical School, University of Massachusetts (J.T.), Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Valerie Cotter
- School of Nursing, Johns Hopkins University (V.C.), Baltimore, Maryland; School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University (V.C.), Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Cara Wallace
- College for Public Health and Social Justice (C.W.), Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Danetta E Sloan
- Department of Health (D.E.S.), Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Dulce Maria Cruz-Oliver
- Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology (D.M.C.O.), Beacham Center for Geriatric Medicine, Johns Hopkins Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | - Rachelle Bernacki
- Department of Psychosocial Oncology and Palliative Care (J.L., R.B.), Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Thomas W Leblanc
- Department of Medicine (T.W.L.), Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Andrew S Epstein
- Department of Medicine (A.S.E.), Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York
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27
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Schutz REC, Creutzfeldt CJ. Palliative care after stroke survival. Handb Clin Neurol 2023; 191:3-11. [PMID: 36599514 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-824535-4.00003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Stroke is a leading cause of both death and disability worldwide. While most research has focused on the first hours to days after acute stroke, much less is known about the experience of patients and their families living after a stroke. Stroke survivors have a high burden of physical and psychological symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and depression that are often not addressed in the postacute setting. Similarly, goals-of-care conversations that may have started during the acute hospitalization are often not followed up later. This chapter outlines the prevalence and management of common poststroke symptoms, approaches to postacute goals-of-care conversations, family needs after stroke, and provides an overview of stroke-specific hospice and end-of-life care aspects. We emphasize the need for research in each of these areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael E C Schutz
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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28
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Lin V, Lele AV, Fong CT, Jannotta GE, Livesay S, Sharma M, Bonow RH, Town JA, Chou SH, Creutzfeldt CJ, Wahlster S. Impact of COVID-19 on neurocritical care delivery and outcomes in patients with severe acute brain injury - Assessing the initial response in the first US epicenter. J Clin Neurosci 2022; 106:135-140. [PMID: 36308868 PMCID: PMC9556940 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2022.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
To investigate the pandemic’s impact on critically ill patients with neurological emergencies, we compared care metrics and outcomes of patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) before and during the initial COVID-19 surge at our institution. We included adult patients with SABI during two separate three-month time periods: 'pre-COVID vs COVID'. We further stratified the COVID cohort to characterize outcomes in patients requiring COVID-19 precautions (Patient Under Investigation, ‘PUI’). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality; secondary endpoints included length of stay (LOS), diagnostic studies performed, time to emergent decompressive craniectomies (DCHC), ventilator management, and end-of-life care. We included 394 patients and found the overall number of admissions for SABI declined by 29 % during COVID (pre-COVID n = 231 vs COVID, n = 163). Our primary outcome of mortality and most secondary outcomes were similar between study periods. There were more frequent extubation attempts (72.1 % vs 76 %) and the mean time to extubation was shorter during COVID (55.5 h vs 38.2 h). The ICU LOS (6.10 days vs 4.69 days) and hospital LOS (15.32 days vs 11.74 days) was shorter during COVID. More PUIs died than non-PUIs (51.7 % vs 11.2 %), but when adjusted for markers of illness severity, this was not significant. We demonstrate the ability to maintain a consistent care delivery for patients with SABI during the pandemic at our institution. PUIs represent a population with higher illness severity at risk for delays in care. Multicenter, longitudinal studies are needed to explore the impact of the pandemic on patients with acute neurological emergencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Lin
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Abhijit V Lele
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Christine T Fong
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Gemi E Jannotta
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sarah Livesay
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Monisha Sharma
- Department of Global Health, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Robert H Bonow
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - James A Town
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sherry H Chou
- Ken and Ruth Davee Dept of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago IL, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Sarah Wahlster
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Kiker WA, Cheng S, Pollack LR, Creutzfeldt CJ, Kross EK, Curtis JR, Belden KA, Melamed R, Armaignac DL, Heavner SF, Christie AB, Banner-Goodspeed VM, Khanna AK, Sili U, Anderson HL, Kumar V, Walkey A, Kashyap R, Gajic O, Domecq JP, Khandelwal N. Admission Code Status and End-of-life Care for Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022; 64:359-369. [PMID: 35764202 PMCID: PMC9233554 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 06/19/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted variability in intensity of care. We aimed to characterize intensity of care among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. OBJECTIVES Examine the prevalence and predictors of admission code status, palliative care consultation, comfort-measures-only orders, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. METHODS This cross-sectional study examined data from an international registry of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. A proportional odds model evaluated predictors of more aggressive code status (i.e., Full Code) vs. less (i.e., Do Not Resuscitate, DNR). Among decedents, logistic regression was used to identify predictors of palliative care consultation, comfort measures only, and CPR at time of death. RESULTS We included 29,923 patients across 179 sites. Among those with admission code status documented, Full Code was selected by 90% (n = 15,273). Adjusting for site, Full Code was more likely for patients who were of Black or Asian race (ORs 1.82, 95% CIs 1.5-2.19; 1.78, 1.15-3.09 respectively, relative to White race), Hispanic ethnicity (OR 1.89, CI 1.35-2.32), and male sex (OR 1.16, CI 1.0-1.33). Of the 4951 decedents, 29% received palliative care consultation, 59% transitioned to comfort measures only, and 29% received CPR, with non-White racial and ethnic groups less likely to receive comfort measures only and more likely to receive CPR. CONCLUSION In this international cohort of patients with COVID-19, Full Code was the initial code status in the majority, and more likely among patients who were Black or Asian race, Hispanic ethnicity or male. These results provide direction for future studies to improve these disparities in care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney A Kiker
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine (W.A.K., L.R.P., E.K.K., J.R.C., ), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (WA.K., L.R.P., C.J.C., E.K.K., J.R.C., N.K.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Si Cheng
- Department of Biostatistics (S.C.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lauren R Pollack
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine (W.A.K., L.R.P., E.K.K., J.R.C., ), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (WA.K., L.R.P., C.J.C., E.K.K., J.R.C., N.K.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (WA.K., L.R.P., C.J.C., E.K.K., J.R.C., N.K.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center (C.J.C.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Erin K Kross
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine (W.A.K., L.R.P., E.K.K., J.R.C., ), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (WA.K., L.R.P., C.J.C., E.K.K., J.R.C., N.K.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J Randall Curtis
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine (W.A.K., L.R.P., E.K.K., J.R.C., ), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (WA.K., L.R.P., C.J.C., E.K.K., J.R.C., N.K.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Katherine A Belden
- Division of Infectious Diseases (K.A.B.), Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Roman Melamed
- Abbott Northwestern Hospital (R.M.), Allina Health, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Donna Lee Armaignac
- Center for Advanced Analytics (D.L.A.), Baptist Health South Florida, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Smith F Heavner
- Department of Public Health Sciences (S.F.H.), Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Amy B Christie
- Department of Critical Care (A.B.C.), Atrium Health Navicent, Macon, GA, USA
| | - Valerie M Banner-Goodspeed
- Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care & Pain Medicine (V.M.B-G.), Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ashish K Khanna
- Department of Anesthesiology, Section on Critical Care Medicine (A.K.K.), Perioperative Outcomes and Informatics Collaborative (POIC), Wake Forest School of Medicine, Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Outcomes Research Consortium (A.K.K.), Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Uluhan Sili
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine (U.S.), Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Harry L Anderson
- Department of Surgery (H.L.A.), St Joseph Mercy Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Vishakha Kumar
- Society of Critical Medicine (V.K.), Mount Prospect, IL, USA
| | - Allan Walkey
- The Pulmonary Center, Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, and Evans Center of Implementation and Improvement Sciences, Department of Medicine (A.W.), Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rahul Kashyap
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (R.K., O.G.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ognjen Gajic
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (R.K., O.G.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Juan Pablo Domecq
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension (J.P.D.), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA; Department of Critical Care Medicine (J.P.D.), Mayo Clinic, Mankato, MN, USA
| | - Nita Khandelwal
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (WA.K., L.R.P., C.J.C., E.K.K., J.R.C., N.K.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine (N.K.), University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Kiker WA, Rutz Voumard R, Plinke W, Longstreth WT, Curtis JR, Creutzfeldt CJ. Prognosis Predictions by Families, Physicians, and Nurses of Patients with Severe Acute Brain Injury: Agreement and Accuracy. Neurocrit Care 2022; 37:38-46. [PMID: 35474037 PMCID: PMC10760982 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-022-01501-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Effective shared decision-making relies on some degree of alignment between families and the medical team regarding a patient's likelihood of recovery. Patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) are often unable to participate in decisions, and therefore family members make decisions on their behalf. The goal of this study was to evaluate agreement between prognostic predictions by families, physicians, and nurses of patients with SABI regarding their likelihood of regaining independence and to measure each group's prediction accuracy. METHODS This observational cohort study, conducted from 01/2018 to 07/2020, was based in the neuroscience and medical/cardiac intensive care units of a single center. Patient eligibility included a diagnosis of SABI-specifically stroke, traumatic brain injury, or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy-and a Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 12 after hospital day 2. At enrollment, families, physicians, and nurses were asked separately to predict a patient's likelihood of recovering to independence within 6 months on a 0-100 scale, regardless of whether a formal family meeting had occurred. True outcome was based on modified Rankin Scale assessment through a family report or medical chart review. Prognostic agreement was measured by (1) intraclass correlation coefficient; (2) mean group prediction comparisons using paired Student's t-tests; and (3) prevalence of concordance, defined as an absolute difference of less than 20 percentage points between predictions. Accuracy for each group was measured by calculating the area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (C statistic) and compared by using DeLong's test. RESULTS Data were collected from 222 patients and families, 45 physicians, and 103 nurses. Complete data on agreement and accuracy were available for 187 and 177 patients, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient, in which 1 indicates perfect correlation and 0 indicates no correlation, was 0.49 for physician-family pairs, 0.40 for family-nurse pairs, and 0.66 for physician-nurse pairs. The difference in mean predictions between families and physicians was 23.5 percentage points (p < 0.001), 25.4 between families and nurses (p < 0.001), and 1.9 between physicians and nurses (p = 0.38). Prevalence of concordance was 39.6% for family-physician pairs, 30.0% for family-nurse pairs, and 56.2% for physician-nurse pairs. The C statistic for prediction accuracy was 0.65 for families, 0.82 for physicians, and 0.76 for nurses. The p values for differences in C statistics were < 0.05 for family-physician and family-nurse groups and 0.18 for physician-nurse groups. CONCLUSIONS For patients with SABI, agreement in predictions between families, physicians, and nurses regarding likelihood of recovery is poor. Accuracy appears higher for physicians and nurses compared with families, with no significant difference between physicians and nurses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney A Kiker
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Rachel Rutz Voumard
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Wesley Plinke
- Oregon Health and Sciences University School of Medicine, Portland, OR, USA
| | - W T Longstreth
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - J Randall Curtis
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology (C.J.C., T.M.L.-M.), University of Washington, Seattle.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence (C.J.C.), University of Washington, Seattle.,Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA (C.J.C., M.R.L., T.M.L.-M.)
| | - Michael R Levitt
- Department of Neurological Surgery (M.R.L.), University of Washington, Seattle.,Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA (C.J.C., M.R.L., T.M.L.-M.)
| | - Thabele M Leslie-Mazwi
- Department of Neurology (C.J.C., T.M.L.-M.), University of Washington, Seattle.,Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA (C.J.C., M.R.L., T.M.L.-M.)
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Lobo SM, Creutzfeldt CJ, Maia IS, Town JA, Amorim E, Kross EK, Çoruh B, Patel PV, Jannotta GE, Lewis A, Greer DM, Curtis JR, Sharma M, Wahlster S. Perceptions of Critical Care Shortages, Resource Use, and Provider Well-being During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Survey of 1,985 Health Care Providers in Brazil. Chest 2022; 161:1526-1542. [PMID: 35150658 PMCID: PMC8828383 DOI: 10.1016/j.chest.2022.01.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Brazil has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, placing a high burden on ICUs. RESEARCH QUESTION Are perceptions of ICU resource availability associated with end-of-life decisions and burnout among health care providers (HCPs) during COVID-19 surges in Brazil? STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We electronically administered a survey to multidisciplinary ICU HCPs during two 2-week periods (in June 2020 and March 2021) coinciding with COVID-19 surges. We examined responses across geographical regions and performed multivariate regressions to explore factors associated with reports of: (1) families being allowed less input in decisions about maintaining life-sustaining treatments for patients with COVID-19 and (2) emotional distress and burnout. RESULTS We included 1,985 respondents (57% physicians, 14% nurses, 12% respiratory therapists, 16% other HCPs). More respondents reported shortages during the second surge compared with the first (P < .05 for all comparisons), including lower availability of intensivists (66% vs 42%), ICU nurses (53% vs 36%), ICU beds (68% vs 22%), and ventilators for patients with COVID-19 (80% vs 70%); shortages were highest in the North. One-quarter of HCPs reported that families were allowed less input in decisions about maintaining life-sustaining treatments for patients with COVID-19, which was associated with lack of intensivists (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.05-1.80) and ICU beds (aRR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16-2.62) during the first surge and lack of N95 masks (aRR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10-1.85), noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (aRR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.18-2.07), and oxygen concentrators (aRR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.13-2.00) during the second surge. Burnout was higher during the second surge (60% vs 71%; P < .001), associated with witnessing colleagues at one's hospital contract COVID-19 during both surges (aRR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.25-1.93] and 1.31 [95% CI, 1.11-1.55], respectively), as well as worries about finances (aRR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.02-1.61) and lack of ICU nurses (aRR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.02-1.53) during the first surge. INTERPRETATION During the COVID-19 pandemic, ICU HCPs in Brazil experienced substantial resource shortages, health care disparities between regions, changes in end-of-life care associated with resource shortages, and high proportions of burnout.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzana M Lobo
- Intensive Care Department, Hospital de Base, São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, Brazil; Associação de Medicina Intensiva Brasileira, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Israel S Maia
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Hospital Nereu Ramos, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil
| | - James A Town
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Edilberto Amorim
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Erin K Kross
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Başak Çoruh
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Pratik V Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Gemi E Jannotta
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Ariane Lewis
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, New York University, New York, NY
| | - David M Greer
- Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - J Randall Curtis
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Hospital Nereu Ramos, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA
| | - Monisha Sharma
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Sarah Wahlster
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA; Department of Neurological Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
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Boss RD, Creutzfeldt CJ, Fausto JA, Gonzales MJ, Grudzen CR, Hurd CJ, Kamal AH, Lam DY, Lindvall C, Merlin JS, Reinke LF, Roeland EJ, Rosenberg AR, Sanders JJ, Smith CB, Sullivan DR, Tjia J, Walling AM. Leading from the Heart. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022; 63:e645-e646. [PMID: 35595379 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Renee D Boss
- Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington (UW), Seattle, Washington, USA; UW Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - James A Fausto
- Department of Family Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | | | - Caroline J Hurd
- Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Arif H Kamal
- Duke Cancer Institute, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel Y Lam
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Jessica S Merlin
- CHAllenges in Managing and Preventing Pain Clinical Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Center for Research on Health Care, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Section of Palliative Care and Medical Ethics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lynn F Reinke
- University of Utah, College of Nursing, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Eric J Roeland
- Oregon Health and Science University, Knight Cancer Institute, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Abby R Rosenberg
- UW Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, Seattle, Washington, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA; Palliative Care and Resilience Program, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Justin J Sanders
- Department of Family Medicine, Palliative Care McGilll, McGill University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Cardinale B Smith
- Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology and Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Donald R Sullivan
- Division of Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA; Center to Improve Veteran Involvement in Care, VA-Portland Health Care System, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Jennifer Tjia
- UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Anne M Walling
- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA; University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Comer AR, Williams LS, Bartlett S, D'Cruz L, Endris K, Marchand M, Zepeda I, Toor S, Waite C, Jawed A, Holloway R, Creutzfeldt CJ, Slaven JE, Torke AM. Palliative and End-of-Life Care After Severe Stroke. J Pain Symptom Manage 2022; 63:721-728. [PMID: 34995684 PMCID: PMC9018507 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.12.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The distinct illness trajectory after acute ischemic stroke demands a better understanding of the utilization of palliative care consultations (PCC) for this patient cohort. This study sought to determine the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes associated with PCC for patients hospitalized with severe ischemic stroke. METHODS This multicenter cohort study was conducted at four hospitals (2 comprehensive and 2 primary stroke centers) between January, 2016 and December, 2019. We included all patients with a discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke and an initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of 10 or greater. We compared patient sociodemographic, clinical and care characteristics as well as hospital outcomes between patients who did and did not receive PCC. RESULTS The study included 1297 patients hospitalized with severe ischemic stroke. PCC occurred for 20% of all patients and this proportion varied across institutions from 11.9% to 43%. Less than half (43%) of patients who died in the hospital. In multivaraible analysis, PCC was less likely in female patients (OR .76, 95% CI .59, .99, P=0.04) but more likely in patients with higher NIHSS (OR1.95, 95% CI 1,13, 3.37, P=0.02). Patients with PCC had higher rates of moving to a plan focused on comfort measures (CMO) (P<0.01) and removal of artificial nutrition as part of a move to CMO (P<0.01). In a sub analysis of patients who died in the hospital and received PCC, patients who died on or before hospital day 3 were less likely to receive PCC than patients who died on or after hospital day 4 (24% v. 51%) (P=<0.01). CONCLUSIONS Most patients with severe stroke do not receive PCC, even among those who experience in-hospital death. The results of this study indicate there are missed opportunities for PCC to help reduce suffering after severe stroke.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber R Comer
- Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences (A.R.C), Indianapolis, Indiana.
| | - Linda S Williams
- Richard L. Roudebush Veterans Affairs Medical Hospital (L.S.W), Indiana University School of Medicine, Regenstrief Institute, Inc, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Stephanie Bartlett
- Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences (S.B., L.D., K.E., M.M., I.Z., C.W.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Lynn D'Cruz
- Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences (S.B., L.D., K.E., M.M., I.Z., C.W.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Katlyn Endris
- Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences (S.B., L.D., K.E., M.M., I.Z., C.W.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - McKenzie Marchand
- Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences (S.B., L.D., K.E., M.M., I.Z., C.W.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Isabel Zepeda
- Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences (S.B., L.D., K.E., M.M., I.Z., C.W.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Sumeet Toor
- Indiana University School of Medicine (S.T., J.E.S.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Carly Waite
- Indiana University School of Health and Human Sciences (S.B., L.D., K.E., M.M., I.Z., C.W.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Areeba Jawed
- University Of Michigan (A.J.), Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | | | - James E Slaven
- Indiana University School of Medicine (S.T., J.E.S.), Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Alexia M Torke
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indiana University Center for Aging Research, Regenstrief Institute (A.M.T.), Daniel F. Evans Center for Spiritual and Religious Values in Healthcare, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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Nguyen T, Sharma M, Crooks P, Patel PV, Bonow RH, Creutzfeldt CJ, Wahlster S. Between scylla and charybdis: risks of early therapeutic anticoagulation for venous thromboembolism after acute intracranial hemorrhage. Br J Neurosurg 2022; 36:251-257. [PMID: 35343356 DOI: 10.1080/02688697.2022.2054944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the risk of hematoma expansion in patients with acute intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) requiring therapeutic anticoagulation for the treatment of venous thromboembolism. METHODS We retrospectively reviewed all patients at our institution between 2014 and 2019 who were therapeutically anticoagulated for venous thromboembolism within 4 weeks after ICH. We included subtypes of traumatic ICH and spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Our main outcome was the incidence of hematoma expansion within 14 days from initiating therapeutic anticoagulation. Hematoma expansion was defined as (1) radiographically proven expansion leading to cessation of therapeutic anticoagulation or (2) death due to hematoma expansion. Secondary outcomes included mortality due to hematoma expansion and characteristics associated with hematoma expansion. RESULTS Fifty patients met inclusion criteria (mean age: 54 years, 80% male, 76% Caucasian); 24% had undergone a neurosurgical procedure prior to therapeutic anticoagulation. Median time from ICH to therapeutic anticoagulation initiation was 9.5 days (IQR 4-17), 40% received therapeutic anticoagulation in <7 days after ICH. Six patients (12%) developed hematoma expansion, of whom two (4%) died. While not statistically significant, patients with hematoma expansion tended to be older (57.8 vs. 53.5 years), were anticoagulated sooner (4 vs. 10 days), presented with lower GCS (50% vs. 39% with GCS <8), higher hematoma volume (50% vs. 42% >30 cc), and higher SDH diameter (16 mm vs. 8.35 mm). There was a trend towards greater risk of hematoma expansion for patients undergoing endoscopic ICH evacuation (16% vs. 2%, p = 0.09); patients with hematoma expansion were more likely to present with hydrocephalus (67% vs. 16%, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS Our study is among the first to explore characteristics associated with hematoma expansion in patients undergoing therapeutic anticoagulation after acute ICH. Larger studies in different ICH subtypes are needed to identify determinants of hematoma expansion in this high-acuity population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thuhien Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Monisha Sharma
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Patrick Crooks
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Pratik V Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Robert H Bonow
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Sarah Wahlster
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Abstract
Research advances in recent years have shown that some individuals with vegetative state or minimally conscious state can emerge to higher states of consciousness even years after injury. A minority of behaviorally unresponsive patients with vegetative state have also been shown to follow commands, or even communicate, using neuroimaging or electrophysiological techniques. These advances raise ethical questions that have important implications for clinical care. In this article, the authors argue that adopting a neuropalliative care approach can help clinicians provide ethical, compassionate care to these patients and their caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline L Goss
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0114, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA.
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104, USA
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Ibeh C, Tirschwell DL, Creutzfeldt CJ. Abstract TP79: Palliative Care After Stroke In Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices: A Nationwide Analysis. Stroke 2022. [DOI: 10.1161/str.53.suppl_1.tp79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Stroke is a common cause of death in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and there is wide variation around end-of-life care. Palliative care encounters (PCEs) are associated with 6% of all stroke-related hospitalizations in the US but little is known about the palliative care needs or practices of PCE after LVAD-related stroke. We sought to better understand current practices around PCE after LVAD-related stroke and its association with outcomes.
Methods:
Using the National Inpatient Sample (2012 - 2018) we identified all LVAD-related acute ischemic stroke (IS), intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) hospitalizations. Demographics, clinical variables, utilization of life-prolonging interventions (LPIs; e.g., percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy and tracheostomy) and outcomes were compared using multivariable regression.
Results:
952 LVAD-related strokes were identified (58% IS, 22% ICH, and 19% SAH); 30% occurred perioperatively. PCE was associated with 16.9% of strokes (in 11% of IS, 24% of ICH and 28% of SAH), a rate that remained stable over time (P=0.112 for trend). Women made up a smaller proportion of those receiving PCE (17% vs 25%, P = 0.05). PCE was associated with 6% of non-fatal strokes and 46% of strokes resulting in in-hospital death. Among patients who died, SAH had the highest rate of PCE (54%), followed by IS (44%), and ICH (40%). Among decedents, PCE was associated with less frequent use of LPIs in ICH and SAH but did not effect length of stay (Figure).
Conclusion:
Although PCE is utilized more frequently in LVAD-related stroke compared to rates in the general stroke population, many LVAD stroke patients die without PCE intervention. PCE is not consistently associated with less aggressive care or early death in LVAD patients dying of stroke. Further work is needed to increase patient and family awareness of PCE services aimed at directing goal-concordant care after devastating neurologic injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinwe Ibeh
- Neurology, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York, NY
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Kluger BM, Kramer NM, Katz M, Galifianakis NB, Pantilat S, Long J, Vaughan CL, Foster LA, Creutzfeldt CJ, Holloway RG, Sillau S, Hauser J. Development and Dissemination of a Neurology Palliative Care Curriculum: Education in Palliative and End-of-Life Care Neurology. Neurol Clin Pract 2022; 12:176-182. [PMID: 35747891 PMCID: PMC9208408 DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000001146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACTDespite increasing awareness of the importance of a palliative care approach to meet the needs of persons living with neurologic illness, residency and fellowship programs report meeting this educational need due to a limited pool of neuropalliative care educators and a lack of adequate educational resources. To meet this need, a group of experts in neuropalliative care and palliative medicine leveraged resources from the Education in Palliative and End-of-life Care (EPEC) program and the National Institutes of Nursing Research (NINR) to create a library of modules addressing topics relevant for neurology trainees, palliative medicine fellows and clinicians in practice. In this manuscript, we describe the development and dissemination plan of the Education in Palliative and End-of-life Care Neurology (EPEC-N) program, initial evidence of efficacy, and opportunities for neurology educators and health services researchers to utilize these resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benzi M Kluger
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Neha M Kramer
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Maya Katz
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Nicholas B Galifianakis
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Steven Pantilat
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Judith Long
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Christina L Vaughan
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Laura A Foster
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Robert G Holloway
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Stefan Sillau
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
| | - Joshua Hauser
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine (BMK, RGH), University of Rochester Medical Center, NY; Department of Internal Medicine (NMK), Rush University Medical College, Chicago, IL; Division of Palliative Medicine and Department of Medicine (MK, NBG, SP, JL), University of California, San Francisco; Department of Neurology (CLV, LAF, SS), University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora; Department of Neurology (CJC), University of Washington, Seattle; and Departments of Palliative and Internal Medicine (JH), Northwestern University, Chicago, IL
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Siegel CL, Besbris J, Everett EA, Lavi ES, Mehta AK, Jones CA, Creutzfeldt CJ, Kramer NM. Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Strokes. J Palliat Med 2021; 24:1877-1883. [PMID: 34704853 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2021.0449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Stroke is a common cause of long-term disability and death, which leaves many patients with significant and unique palliative care (PC) needs. Shared decision-making for patients with stroke poses distinct challenges due to the sudden nature of stroke, the uncertainty inherent in prognostication around recovery, and the common necessity of relying on surrogates for decision-making. Patients with stroke suffer from frequently underrecognized symptoms, which PC clinicians should feel comfortable identifying and treating. This article provides 10 tips for palliative clinicians to increase their knowledge and comfort in caring for this important population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cara L Siegel
- Departments of Neurology and Palliative Care, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jessica Besbris
- Departments of Neurology and Supportive Care Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Elyse A Everett
- Departments of Medicine and Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Elana S Lavi
- Department of Speech Language Pathology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Ambereen K Mehta
- Palliative Care Program, Department of General Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher A Jones
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Neha M Kramer
- Departments of Neurology and Internal Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Ruiz A, Longstreth WT, Tirschwell DL, Creutzfeldt CJ. What defines success following reperfusion after mechanical thrombectomy for older patients in the real world? J Neurol 2021; 269:2214-2218. [PMID: 34674008 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-021-10859-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Amber Ruiz
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - W T Longstreth
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - David L Tirschwell
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA.
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Goss AL, Creutzfeldt CJ. Neuropalliative Care in the Inpatient Setting. Semin Neurol 2021; 41:619-630. [PMID: 34619785 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1731071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The palliative care needs of inpatients with neurologic illness are varied, depending on diagnosis, acuity of illness, available treatment options, prognosis, and goals of care. Inpatient neurologists ought to be proficient at providing primary palliative care and effective at determining when palliative care consultants are needed. In the acute setting, palliative care should be integrated with lifesaving treatments using a framework of determining goals of care, thoughtfully prognosticating, and engaging in shared decision-making. This framework remains important when aggressive treatments are not desired or not available, or when patients are admitted to the hospital for conditions related to advanced stages of chronic neurologic disease. Because prognostic uncertainty characterizes much of neurology, inpatient neurologists must develop communication strategies that account for uncertainty while supporting shared decision-making and allowing patients and families to preserve hope. In this article, we illustrate the approach to palliative care in inpatient neurology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline L Goss
- Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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Rutz Voumard R, Dugger KM, Kiker WA, Barber J, Borasio GD, Curtis JR, Jox RJ, Creutzfeldt CJ. Goal-Concordant Care After Severe Acute Brain Injury. Front Neurol 2021; 12:710783. [PMID: 34603183 PMCID: PMC8485029 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2021.710783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) lack decision-making capacity, calling on families and clinicians to make goal-concordant decisions, aligning treatment with patient's presumed goals-of-care. Using the family perspective, this study aimed to (1) compare patient's goals-of-care with the care they were receiving in the acute setting, (2) identify patient and family characteristics associated with goal-concordant care, and (3) assess goals-of-care 6 months after SABI. Methods: Our cohort included patients with SABI in our Neuro-ICU and a Glasgow Coma Scale Score <12 after day 2. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were collected through surveys and chart review. At enrollment and again at 6 months, each family was asked if the patient would prefer medical care focused on extending life vs. care focused on comfort and quality of life, and what care the patient is currently receiving. We used multivariate regression to examine the characteristics associated with (a) prioritized goals (comfort/extending life/unsure) and (b) goal concordance. Results: Among 214 patients, families reported patients' goals-of-care to be extending life in 118 cases (55%), comfort in 71 (33%), and unsure for 25 (12%), while care received focused on extending life in 165 cases (77%), on comfort in 23 (11%) and families were unsure in 16 (7%). In a nominal regression model, prioritizing comfort over extending life was significantly associated with being non-Hispanic White and having worse clinical severity. Most patients who prioritized extending life were receiving family-reported goal-concordant care (88%, 104/118), while most of those who prioritized comfort were receiving goal-discordant care (73%, 52/71). The only independent association for goal concordance was having a presumed goal of extending life at enrollment (OR 23.62, 95% CI 10.19–54.77). Among survivors at 6 months, 1 in 4 family members were unsure about the patient's goals-of-care. Conclusion: A substantial proportion of patients are receiving unwanted aggressive care in the acute setting after SABI. In the first days, such aggressive care might be justified by prognostic uncertainty. The high rate of families unsure of patient's goals-of-care at 6 months suggests an important need for periodic re-evaluation of prognosis and goals-of-care in the post-acute setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Rutz Voumard
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Kaley M Dugger
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Whitney A Kiker
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Jason Barber
- Department of Neurosurgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Gian Domenico Borasio
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - J Randall Curtis
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ralf J Jox
- Department of Palliative and Supportive Care, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.,Institute of Humanities in Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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Kiker WA, Rutz Voumard R, Andrews LIB, Holloway RG, Brumback LC, Engelberg RA, Curtis JR, Creutzfeldt CJ. Assessment of Discordance Between Physicians and Family Members Regarding Prognosis in Patients With Severe Acute Brain Injury. JAMA Netw Open 2021; 4:e2128991. [PMID: 34673964 PMCID: PMC8531991 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.28991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Shared decision-making requires key stakeholders to align in perceptions of prognosis and likely treatment outcomes. OBJECTIVE For patients with severe acute brain injury, the objective of this study was to better understand prognosis discordance between physicians and families by determining prevalence and associated factors. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This mixed-methods cross-sectional study analyzed a cohort collected from January 4, 2018, to July 22, 2020. This study was conducted in the medical and cardiac intensive care units of a single neuroscience center. Participants included families, physicians, and nurses of patients admitted with severe acute brain injury. EXPOSURES Severe acute brain injury was defined as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than or equal to 12 points after hospital day 2. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Prognosis discordance was defined as a 20% or greater difference between family and physician prognosis predictions; misunderstanding was defined as a 20% or greater difference between physician prediction and the family's estimate of physician prediction; and optimistic belief difference was defined as any difference (>0%) between family prediction and their estimate of physician prediction. Logistic regression was used to identify associations with discordance. Optimistic belief differences were analyzed as a subgroup of prognosis discordance. RESULTS Among 222 enrolled patients, prognostic predictions were available for 193 patients (mean [SD] age, 57 [19] years; 106 men [55%]). Prognosis discordance occurred for 118 patients (61%) and was significantly more common among families who identified with minoritized racial groups compared with White families (odds ratio [OR], 3.14; CI, 1.40-7.07, P = .006); among siblings (OR, 4.93; 95% CI, 1.35-17.93, P = .02) and adult children (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.10-5.37; P = .03) compared with spouses; and when nurses perceived family understanding as poor compared with good (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.88-7.40; P < .001). Misunderstanding was present for 80 of 173 patients (46%) evaluated for this type of prognosis discordance, and optimistic belief difference was present for 94 of 173 patients (54%). In qualitative analysis, faith and uncertainty emerged as themes underlying belief differences. Nurse perception of poor family understanding was significantly associated with misunderstanding (OR, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.07-3.94; P = .03), and physician perception with optimistic belief differences (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.10-4.88; P = .03). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Results of this cross-sectional study suggest that for patients with severe acute brain injury, prognosis discordance between physicians and families was common. Efforts to improve communication and decision-making should aim to reduce this discordance and find ways to target both misunderstanding and optimistic belief differences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney A. Kiker
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Rachel Rutz Voumard
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle
- Palliative and Supportive Care Service, Lausanne University Hospital, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Leah I. B. Andrews
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle
| | - Robert G. Holloway
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - Lyndia C. Brumback
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Washington School of Public Health, Seattle
| | - Ruth A. Engelberg
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - J. Randall Curtis
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Claire J. Creutzfeldt
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle
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Creutzfeldt CJ. Palliative Care and Shared Decision Making in the Neurocritical Care Unit. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 27:1430-1443. [PMID: 34618767 DOI: 10.1212/con.0000000000001003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article reviews the evidence on integrating palliative care into the care of patients with various types of serious neurologic illness, emphasizes the importance of palliative care in the neurocritical care unit, and suggests tools for clinicians to improve their communication skills and decision making. RECENT FINDINGS Palliative care is a holistic approach to medical care that aims to relieve physical, psychological, social, and spiritual suffering. It is both a medical specialty as young as neurocritical care itself and an approach to patient care by all clinicians who manage patients with serious illness. Patients presenting to the neurocritical care unit and their families have unique palliative care needs that challenge communication and shared decision making. SUMMARY Palliative care, effective communication, and shared decision making require a set of core skills that all neurology clinicians should master.
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Lou W, Granstein JH, Wabl R, Singh A, Wahlster S, Creutzfeldt CJ. Taking a Chance to Recover: Families Look Back on the Decision to Pursue Tracheostomy After Severe Acute Brain Injury. Neurocrit Care 2021; 36:504-510. [PMID: 34476722 PMCID: PMC8412876 DOI: 10.1007/s12028-021-01335-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Tracheostomy represents one important and value-laden treatment decision after severe acute brain injury (SABI). Whether to pursue this life-sustaining treatment typically hinges on intense conversations between family and clinicians. The aim of this study was, among a cohort of patient who had undergone tracheostomy after SABI, to explore the long-term reflections of patients and their families as they look back on this decision. Methods For this qualitative study, we reviewed the electronic medical records of patients with SABI who underwent tracheostomy. We included all patients who were admitted to our 30-bed neuro-intensive care unit with SABI and underwent tracheostomy between November 2017 and October 2019. Using purposive sampling, we invited survivors and family members to participate in telephone interviews greater than 3 months after SABI until thematic saturation was reached. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed by using thematic analysis. Results Overall, 38 patients with SABI in the neuro-intensive care unit underwent tracheostomy. The mean age of patients was 49 (range 18–81), with 19 of 38 patients diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and 19 of 38 with stroke. We interviewed 20 family members of 18 of 38 patients at a mean of 16 (SD 9) months after hospitalization. The mean patient age among those with an interview was 50 (range 18–76); the mean modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) was 4.7 (SD 0.8) at hospital discharge. At the time of the interview, ten patients lived at home and two in a skilled nursing facility and had a mean mRS of 2.6 (SD 0.9), and six had died. As families reflected on the decision to proceed with a tracheostomy, two themes emerged. First, families did not remember tracheostomy as a choice because the uncertain chance of recovery rendered the certain alternative of death unacceptable or because they valued survival above all and therefore could not perceive an alternative to life-sustaining treatment. Second, families identified a fundamental need to receive supportive, consistent communication centering around compassion, clarity, and hope. When this need was met, families were able to reflect on the tracheostomy decision with peace, regardless of their loved one’s eventual outcome. Conclusions After SABI, prognostic uncertainty almost transcends the concept of choice. Families who proceeded with a tracheostomy saw it as the only option at the time. High-quality communication may mitigate the stress surrounding this high-stakes decision. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12028-021-01335-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Lou
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - Justin H Granstein
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - Rafael Wabl
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - Amita Singh
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - Sarah Wahlster
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Harborview Medical Center, Department of Neurology, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359775, Seattle, WA, 98104, USA.
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Ibeh C, Tirschwell DL, Mahr C, Creutzfeldt CJ. Medical and Surgical Management of Left Ventricular Assist Device-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2021; 30:106053. [PMID: 34418673 DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2021.106053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Management of left ventricular assist device (LVAD)-associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is complicated by the competing concerns of hematoma expansion and the risk of thrombosis. Strategies include reversal or withholding of anticoagulation (AC) and neurosurgical (NSG) interventions. The consequences of these decisions can significantly impact both short- and long-term survival. Currently no guidelines exist. We reviewed medical and NSG practices following LVAD-associated ICH and analyzed outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS Retrospective analysis of data collected between 2012-2018 was performed. Survival probability following ICH was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS Out of 283 patients, 32 (11%) had 34 ICHs: 16 intraparenchymal (IPH, 47%), 4 subdural (SDH, 12%), and 14 subarachnoid (SAH, 41%). IPH tended to occur sooner (median 138 [IQR 48 - 258] days post-LVAD placement) and be more neurologically devastating (mean GCS 11.4 [4.4]). Antithrombotics were reversed in 27 (79%); 1 thrombotic event occurred while off AC. Following resumption, re-hemorrhage occurred in 7 (25%), a median of 13 days (IQR 8-30) post-ICH. Five underwent NSG intervention and 6 (18%) went on to receive heart transplant. Overall, 30-day mortality was 26% (38% in IPH, 0% in SDH, and 29% in SAH), but rose to 44% at 6 months. CONCLUSION ICH is a common post-LVAD complication with high short- and long-term mortality, though ICH subtypes may not be equally devastating. Despite this, some may benefit from neurosurgical intervention and do well following cardiac transplant. Anticoagulation is frequently reversed after ICH. Resumption however should be approached cautiously in patients with LVADs given their possible baseline coagulopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chinwe Ibeh
- Department of Neurology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, 710 W 168th St, New York, NY 10032, United States.
| | - David L Tirschwell
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
| | - Claudius Mahr
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States.
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Sokol LL, Lum HD, Creutzfeldt CJ, Cella D, Forlizzi J, Cerf M, Hauser JM, Kluger BM. Meaning and Dignity Therapies for Psychoneurology in Neuropalliative Care: A Vision for the Future. J Palliat Med 2021; 23:1155-1156. [PMID: 32877285 DOI: 10.1089/jpm.2020.0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Leonard L Sokol
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,McGaw Bioethics Scholars Program, Center for Bioethics and Humanities, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Hillary D Lum
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA.,Eastern Colorado VA Geriatric Research Education and Clinical Center, Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | | | - David Cella
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Department of Medical Social Sciences, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Jodi Forlizzi
- Human-Computer Interaction Institute, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Moran Cerf
- Kellogg School of Management, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, USA
| | - Joshua M Hauser
- Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Institute for Public Health and Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Section of Palliative Medicine, Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA.,Palliative Care Service, Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Benzi M Kluger
- Departments of Neurology and Medicine, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, USA
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Sharma M, Creutzfeldt CJ, Lewis A, Patel PV, Hartog C, Jannotta GE, Blissitt P, Kross EK, Kassebaum N, Greer DM, Curtis JR, Wahlster S. Health-care Professionals' Perceptions of Critical Care Resource Availability and Factors Associated With Mental Well-being During Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Results from a US Survey. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 72:e566-e576. [PMID: 32877508 PMCID: PMC7499503 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on intensive care unit (ICU) providers’ perceptions of resource availability and evaluating factors associated with emotional distress/burnout can inform interventions to promote provider well-being. Methods Between April 23-May 7, 2020, we electronically administered a survey to physicians, nurses, respiratory therapist (RTs) and advanced practice providers (APPs) caring for COVID-19 patients in the US. We conducted multivariate regression to assess associations between concerns, reported lack of resources and three outcomes: emotional distress/burnout (primary outcome), and two secondary outcomes: 1) fear that hospital is unable to keep providers safe, and 2) concern about transmitting COVID-19 to family/community. Results We included 1,651 respondents from all 50 states; 47% nurses, 25% physicians, 17% RTs, 11% APPS. Shortages of intensivists and ICU nurses were reported by 12% and 28% of providers, respectively. The largest supply restrictions reported were for powered air purifying respirators (PAPRs); (56% reporting restricted availability). Provider concerns included worries about transmitting COVID-19 to family/community (66%), emotional distress/burnout (58%), and insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) (40%). After adjustment, emotional distress/burnout was significantly associated with insufficient PPE access (aRR: 1.43, 95% CI: 1.32 - 1.55), stigma from community (aRR: 1.32, 95% CI: 1.24 - 1.41), and poor communication with supervisors (aRR:1.13, 95% CI: 1.06 - 1.21). Insufficient PPE access was the strongest predictor of feeling that the hospital is unable to keep providers safe and worries about transmitting infection to families/communities. Conclusion Addressing insufficient PPE access, poor communication from supervisors, and community stigma may improve provider mental well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monisha Sharma
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Cambia Health Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Ariane Lewis
- Departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery, New York University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Pratik V Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christiane Hartog
- Klinik für Anaesthesie und Operative Intensivmedizin, Charité Universitaetsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Klinik Bavaria Kreischa, Kreischa, Germany
| | - Gemi E Jannotta
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Patricia Blissitt
- Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Informatics, University of Washington School of Nursing, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Erin K Kross
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Nicholas Kassebaum
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David M Greer
- Department of Neurology, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - J Randall Curtis
- Cambia Palliative Care Center of Excellence, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Cambia Health Foundation, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Sarah Wahlster
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Neurological Surgery, Harborview Medical Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Ibeh C, TIRSCHWELL DL, Mahr C, Creutzfeldt CJ. Abstract P435: Medical and Neurosurgical Interventions in Left Ventricular Assist Device-Associated Intracranial Hemorrhage. Stroke 2021. [DOI: 10.1161/str.52.suppl_1.p435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Management of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is complicated by the competing concerns of hematoma expansion and the risk of thrombotic events. Strategies include reversal or withholding of anticoagulation (AC) and neurosurgical (NSG) interventions. The consequences of these decisions can significantly impact both short- and long-term survival. Currently no guidelines on management exist. We reviewed medical and NSG practices and subsequent outcomes at a single academic center.
Methods:
We retrospectively identified all patients within our institutional LVAD database who developed ICH between 2012-2018. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were analyzed.
Results:
Of 283 LVAD patients, 32 (11%) had 34 ICHs: 16 intraparenchymal (IPH, 47%), 4 subdural (SDH, 12%), and 14 subarachnoid (SAH, 41%). IPH occurred sooner than other subtypes (median 138 [48 - 258]) days post-LVAD placement vs SDH (431 [22 - 915] days) and SAH (484 [272 - 990] days). Mean GCS was 12.9 (3.7). All patients were on AC with a mean INR of 3.3 (range 1.2 - 7.0). AC was reversed in 27 (79%) patients, most frequently with a combination of Vit K (56%), FFP (47%), or PCC (26%). AC was held in 31 patients a median of 4 (2.0 - 9.0) days; 1 thrombotic event occurred while off AC (spinal cord infarct). After AC resumption, 16 thrombotic events occurred a median of 15 (8.0-37.0) days post-ICH and led to death in most (79%) by 6 months. Five patients underwent NSG intervention: 1 hemicraniectomy, 3 EVDs, and 1 aneurysm coiling. Six patients (18%) went on to receive heart transplant. Overall, 30-day mortality was 26%. IPH had the highest 30-day mortality (38% vs SDH, 0% and SAH, 29%). At 6 months, overall mortality was 44%.
Conclusion:
ICH is a common post-LVAD complication with high short- and long-term mortality. Of the subtypes, IPH was the most common, most deadly and occurred the earliest following LVAD placement. At our institution, most patients underwent AC reversal but AC was also resumed rapidly. Delayed thrombotic complications nearly doubled 6-month mortality. The development of ICH did not preclude successful heart transplant. Further research in the care of LVAD patients with ICH may help improve these short- and long-term outcomes.
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Ibeh C, Tirschwell DL, Mahr C, Li S, Beckman JA, Creutzfeldt CJ. Acute Anticoagulation After Ischemic Stroke in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices. ASAIO J 2021; 67:e74-e76. [PMID: 33627613 DOI: 10.1097/mat.0000000000001232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Chinwe Ibeh
- Department of Neurology, Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, WA
| | | | - Claudius Mahr
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Song Li
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Jennifer A Beckman
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Claire J Creutzfeldt
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
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