[Effect of Concept and Practice of Palliative Care on the Death Status of Patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital].

Objective To analyze the changes of death status of the inpatients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital before and after the development of palliative care.Methods All the death cases of Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2013 (384 cases) and 2019 (244 cases) were included in this study,and the general information of the patients and the details of diagnosis and treatment before death were collected.Results The departments of intensive care,emergency,and respiratory diseases and the international medical services had highest number of deaths in both 2013 and 2019,with the cumulative constituent ratios of 67.7% and 62.7%,respectively.The number of clinical departments that involved or implemented palliative care increased from 7 in 2013 to 14 in 2019.The number of patients who died in 2019 and exposed to palliative care increased (P<0.001) compared with that in 2013,and increasing patients received humanistic care (P<0.001).Compared with 2013,2019 witnessed reducing patients receiving vasoactive drugs (P=0.006),cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P=0.002),endotracheal intubation (P=0.002),invasive mechanical ventilation (P<0.001),and invasive operation (P<0.001) before death in 2019.Conclusion The concept and practice of palliative care have significantly reduced the proportion of terminal patients receiving traumatic treatment.

Effect of Concept and Practice of Palliative Care on the Death Status of Patients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital / 中国医学科学院学报

Objective To analyze the changes of death status of the inpatients in Peking Union Medical College Hospital before and after the development of palliative care.Methods All the death cases of Peking Union Medical College Hospital in 2013 (384 cases) and 2019 (244 cases) were included in this study,and the general information of the patients and the details of diagnosis and treatment before death were collected.Results The departments of intensive care,emergency,and respiratory diseases and the international medical services had highest number of deaths in both 2013 and 2019,with the cumulative constituent ratios of 67.7% and 62.7%,respectively.The number of clinical departments that involved or implemented palliative care increased from 7 in 2013 to 14 in 2019.The number of patients who died in 2019 and exposed to palliative care increased (P<0.001) compared with that in 2013,and increasing patients received humanistic care (P<0.001).Compared with 2013,2019 witnessed reducing patients receiving vasoactive drugs (P=0.006),cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P=0.002),endotracheal intubation (P=0.002),invasive mechanical ventilation (P<0.001),and invasive operation (P<0.001) before death in 2019.Conclusion The concept and practice of palliative care have significantly reduced the proportion of terminal patients receiving traumatic treatment.

Penetrating Vertebral Artery Injuries: A Literature Review and Proposed Treatment Algorithm.

BACKGROUND: Penetrating vertebral artery injuries (VAIs) are rare but devastating trauma for which the approach to treatment varies greatly. The literature on treatment modalities is limited to case reports, case series, and 1 review, with the majority of cases being treated surgically. However, with the advent of digital subtraction angiography, treatment has shifted toward less invasive endovascular modalities that allows one to assess the flow and risks of sacrificing the vertebral artery (VA). METHODS: In accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses, a systematic review of VAI was performed. Two case reports were also detailed. Using a multidisciplinary team, a decision algorithm was proposed for approaching penetrating VAIs. RESULTS: We identified 169 patients. Of the penetrating VAI, the majority were occlusions, most commonly managed conservatively. Other injuries including pseudoaneurysm, dissection, transection, and arterial-venous fistula were treated predominantly endovascularly and occasionally with the surgical exploration/ligation. Most endovascular treatments included embolization without significant stroke or complication from VA sacrifice. However, there are incidences in which VA sacrifice should be avoided and these scenarios can be better delineated with digital subtraction angiography to assess flow and anatomy. CONCLUSIONS: This systematic review not only details the updated treatment options but also provides a decision algorithm for the treatment of penetrating VAI. It highlights the shifting treatment options of penetrating VAI to endovascular therapy, as well as details VAI variants that may suggest stenting over embolization.