End-of-life care at the department of general medicine of a large hospital / 日本プライマリ・ケア連合学会誌

ABSTRACT

<b>Objective</b> To investigate end-of-life care at the Department of General Medicine of Saku Central Hospital (DGSCH).<br><b>Methods</b> A retrospective survey of medical records of patients who died at DGSCH in 2011.<br><b>Results</b> 101 patients died in that year. The average age was 85.2, and 73% patients lived in Saku city. The main causes of death were pneumonia (30%), cancer (20%) and senility (20%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in 4% of patients. Total parenteral nutrition was performed in 8% and tube feeding therapy was performed in 12%.<br><b>Conclusion</b> Patients who died at DGSCH were elderly patients who lived near the hospital, and most died without invasive medical procedures.