Document Detail


Factors influencing DNR decision-making in a surgical ICU.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16735215     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: End-of-life decisions in the surgical ICU can be complicated by the unique characteristics of perioperative illness and the focus on life-extending interventions. We sought to determine whether illness severity correlated with the presence of DNR order in critically ill surgical patients. STUDY DESIGN: All surgical ICU patients who were given a DNR order from May 1, 1991 to May 31, 1998 were identified. Demographic data for all patients were collected prospectively. Patients who died without a DNR order were compared with patients with DNR orders. Variables in the analysis included date of DNR order, age, ICU, and hospital lengths of stay, APACHE II and III scores and maximum multiple organ dysfunction scores, past medical history, and mortality. ANOVA, multivariate ANOVA, and chi-square statistical tests were used to analyze the data, with p </= 0.05 used to reject the null hypothesis. RESULTS: Mortality for DNR patients was 84.7%. Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome was ubiquitous in this group of patients. There were no differences between DNR and no-DNR groups on the basis of age or APACHE III score or multiple organ dysfunction score. ICU lengths of stay were substantially higher in the patients made DNR, 1.8 +/- 0.1 versus 1.0 +/- 0.1, p = 0.0001, and 16.9 +/- 0.2 versus 12.1 +/- 1.2, p = 0.011, respectively. Multivariate ANOVA revealed that only past medical history predicted a DNR order. CONCLUSIONS: Although acuity of illness and organ dysfunction consistently predicted mortality in critically ill patient populations, only elements of the past medical history were positively associated with a DNR order in critically ill surgical patients. Additional prospective studies need to be performed to determine the relative influences of physiologic, demographic, and sociologic factors on the creation of DNR orders in critically ill surgical patients.
Authors:
Matthew D Bacchetta; Soumitra R Eachempati; Joseph J Fins; Lynn Hydo; Philip S Barie
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Comparative Study; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of the American College of Surgeons     Volume:  202     ISSN:  1072-7515     ISO Abbreviation:  J. Am. Coll. Surg.     Publication Date:  2006 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2006-05-31     Completed Date:  2006-06-20     Revised Date:  2008-11-21    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9431305     Medline TA:  J Am Coll Surg     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  995-1000     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Critical Illness*
Decision Making
General Surgery / legislation & jurisprudence*
Humans
Intensive Care Units*
Prognosis
Resuscitation Orders / psychology*
Retrospective Studies
Severity of Illness Index

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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