Circumstances surrounding end of life in a Swiss pediatric intensive care unit

Article Article scientifique Article Circumstances surrounding end of life in a Swiss pediatric intensive care unit eng 2023-06-21 2023-06-21 author Wanders Aurélie 0000-0002-1107-0480 700589 author Ghinescu Cristian 930897 author Levy-Jamet Yann author Martin Anne-Laure 507689 author Barcos Munoz Francisca Mariana 0000-0001-7143-6117 871644 Francisca Barcos Munoz author Rimensberger Peter 134965 author Polito Angelo 891320 Département de Pédiatrie, Gynécologie et Obstétrique (PETRI) 7 10.1007/s44253-023-00005-2 2731-944X https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s44253-023-00005-2 Purpose To describe the modes of death (MOD), the elements related to the decision to forgo life-sustaining treatments (LST) as well as the medical and parental environment surrounding time of death in our pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Methods This is a retrospective, single-center study from a Swiss PICU. All patients between 30 days and 18 years of age who died in our PICU from 2006 to 2019 were eligible for inclusion. Data were collected from patients’ record and from a standardized death form containing information on circumstances surrounding end-of-life. Patients’ and families’ characteristics as well as trends over time of MOD were evaluated. Results Of 6930 PICU admissions during the whole study period, 121 (1.7%) died in our PICU. Mortality significantly decreased from 2.9% in 2006 to 1% in 2019 ( p = 0.003). More than half of patients died after a decision to transition to comfort care (68.56%). Withdrawal and limitation of LST were the prevalent MOD (56%) with a significant increase in withdrawal over time. Primary diagnosis, limitation (vs. withdrawal) of LST, type of admission and families’ religious background are associated with longer latencies between admission to decision to comfort care and from decision to death. At least one parent was present in 94% of cases when LST were limited or withdrawn. Conclusions Most of the deaths follow LST limitation or withdrawal with increasing rates of withdrawal over time. We also showed that time latencies between admission and decision and from decision to death varies depending on MOD, patients’ characteristics and families ‘religious background. Intensive care unit Death End-of-life care Pediatric Dewey 618 58 Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique 223 false 424 Réanimation néonatale en salle d'accouchement 696 Intensive care medicine. Paediatric and neonatal 1 d1efc967-8a26-4645-ad85-668f9ee98a01 Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_crossref.pdf 993761 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 1dbec2ce9156c6bc907e1cf248b9b51082201109224ead39d54bb7d098853449 openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique

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Circumstances surrounding end of life in a Swiss pediatric intensive care unit	Intensive care medicine. Paediatric and neonatal			2023	65	323

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Ghinescu, Cristian