ABSTRACT
Background: Deaths in paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) are sometimes unavoidable. The decision to withdraw or withhold treatment is important especially in places where there are limited resources. Objective: To evaluate the modes of death and underlying diseases of patients’ deaths in a PICU. Method: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical features and management of consecutive non-survivors in the PICU at a tertiary care University Hospital in a developing country over a three-year period. Results: Of 1,389 admissions, 110 (8%) patients died. The median age of the deaths was 4.1 years. Most (86%) patients had underlying diseases including congenital heart diseases (27%) and malignancies (23%). Forty-seven patients died with active treatment (AT), 60 died with life support limitation (LSL), and 3 had brain death (BD). The median length of stay (LOS) in AT group was 3 days and this was not significantly different (p=0.056) from the median LOS in LSL group which was 5 days. LOS less than 3 days, postoperative cases and underlying diseases of the cardiovascular system were factors associated with the AT group. The three common complications leading to death were multi-organ failure, septicaemia with septic shock and respiratory failure. Conclusions: Congenital heart diseases and malignancies were the two common underlying diseases found in non-survivors. LSL was the common mode of death in PICU.
ABSTRACT
JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Analisar e discutir os aspectos médicos relacionados a terminalidade e cuidados de final de vida oferecidos a crianças internadas, principalmente, em unidades de terapia intensiva pediátrica (UTIP) no Brasil e em alguns países do hemisfério norte. CONTEÚDO: Foram selecionados artigos sobre cuidados de final de vida publicados nos últimos 20 anos na PubMed, MedLine e LILACS com ênfase nos estudos sobre morte em UTIP no Brasil, América Latina, Europa e Norte América, usando as palavras-chave: morte, bioética, tratamento intensivo pediátrico, reanimação cardiopulmonar e limitação de suporte de vida. CONCLUSÕES: Observou-se maior incidência de limitação de suporte vital (LSV ~60 por cento) nas UTIP Norte-Americanas e européias que na América Latina (30 por cento-40 por cento). No Brasil a LSV tem diferentes incidências de acordo com a região, tendo aumentado na última década de 6 por cento para 40 por cento, sendo a ordem de não reanimar a forma mais freqüente. A participação da família no processo decisório no nosso meio é desestimulada e muito incipiente. Baseados na literatura revisada e em sua experiência os autores apresentam as medidas que consideram mais eficazes e recomendadas no seu manuseio. Apesar da LSV em crianças em fase final de doença irreversível ter amparos ético, moral e legal; essas medidas são ainda adotadas de forma tímida. Entre as mudanças urgentes neste comportamento, destaca-se a necessidade do envolvimento da família no processo decisório.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze and discuss the medical practices related to the end-of-life care provided to children admitted to pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) in Brazil and in some countries located in the northern hemisphere. CONTENTS: Selected articles on end-of-life care published during the last years searching the PubMed, MedLine and LILACS database, with special interest on studies of death conducted in pediatric intensive care units in Brazil, Latin America, Europe and North America, using the following key words: death, bioethics, PICU, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and life support limitation (LSL). CONCLUSIONS: In North America and North Europe, the incidence of LSL is greater (60 percent-80 percent) than in south Europe and Latin America (30 percent-40 percent). In Brazil the incidence of LSL depends on the region and in the last decade it is increasing from 6 percent to 40 percent; being the do-not-reanimated order the most frequent mode of LSL. The family participation in the decision making process is not stimulated and incipient. Based on the literature review and on their experience the authors present the measures that they consider most efficient and recommended for managing this situation in our region. Despite of LSL in children with terminal and irreversible disease be considered ethically, morally and legally; these measures are still adopted in a very few circumstances in our region. Urgent changes in this behavior are necessary, specially related to family participation in the decision-making process.
Subject(s)
Inpatients , Intensive Care Units, Pediatric , Terminally IllABSTRACT
JUSTIFICATIVA E OBJETIVOS: Analisar e discutir os aspectos médicos relacionados a participação da família nos cuidados de final de vida oferecidos a crianças internadas em unidades de tratamento intensivo pediátrico (UTIP). CONTEÚDO: Foram selecionados artigos sobre cuidados de final de vida publicados nos últimos 20 anos na PubMed, MedLine e LILACS com ênfase nos estudos sobre morte em UTIP no Brasil, América Latina, Europa e Norte América, usando as palavras-chave: morte, bioética, tratamento intensivo pediátrico, pacientes terminais, limitação de suporte de vida, entrevista com familiares. CONCLUSÕES: Vários estudos têm demonstrado a importância da participação da família no processo decisório de imitação de suporte de vida. Em nosso meio a participação da família neste processo ainda é pouco estimulado e valorizado, oscilando entre 20 por cento e 55 por cento. Os autores apresentam uma seqüência de abordagem na definição de LSV com a família. Apesar da sua participação no processo de final de vida de pacientes terminais ter amparos ético, moral e legal e ser praticada em paises desenvolvidos, esta conduta é pouco adotada. Estudos devem realizados na tentativa de explicar esta dificuldade encontrada pelos intensivistas pediátricos brasileiros.
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To analyze and discuss the medical aspects related to the family involvement in the decision making process regarding end of life care to children admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). CONTENTS: The authors selected articles on end-of-life care published during the last years searching the PubMed, MedLine and LILACS database, with special interest on studies of death conducted in pediatric intensive care units in Brazil, Latin America, Europe and North America, using the following keywords: death, bioethics, PICU, decision-making, terminal care, parents interview and life support limitation (LSL). CONCLUSIONS: Several studies have demonstrated the relevance of the family participation in the decision making process regarding LSL. In our region the family participation in this process is not stimulated and valued, ranging from 20 percent-55 percent. The authors present a practical sequence for discussing and defining LSL with the families. Despite of the family participation in the decision making process for LSL be legally, morally and ethically accepted in developed countries, this approach is adopted in a very few cases in our region. To explain this difficulty observed among the Brazilian pediatric intensivist, some studies should be conducted in our region.