Work

Death and dying in the intensive care unit

Year: 2015

Type: dissertation

Abstract: In the Netherlands most patients die in the intensive care unit (ICU) after a decision to withdraw life-sustaining measures (WOLSM) has been made. The ICU patients in whom life-sustaining measures are withdrawn are relatively old and are severely ill, according to the APACHE and SOFA scores. The patient group with severe trauma to the central nervous system has the highest incidence of WOLSM. Although this seems logical, just because neurological outcome is so difficult to predict, early withdrawing introduces a substantial self-fulfilling prophecy, making reliable prognostication in the near future almost impossible. Especially in the young patient group, even in the case of severe neurological damage, patience is to be advised.

Source: EUR Research Repository (Erasmus University Rotterdam)

Author: Jelle L. Epker

Language: English

Topic: Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

OpenAlex ID: W1953163750

Cites: 101

Cited by:

Related to: 10