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Palliative Care for the Critically-Ill Patient Justin Engleka C.R.N.P. Associate Chief of Nursing VA Pittsburgh Health System [email protected] FRH PALLIATIVE CARE INITIATIVE GOALS: 1. Describe palliative care philosophy 2. Discuss benefits to the patient and provider 3. Identify ICU patients appropriate for palliative care 4. Discuss how palliative care can help the ICU patient Divisions by Health Status in the Population and Trajectories of Eventually Fatal Chronic Illnesses Divisions in the Population Major Trajectories near Death A Group 2 death “Chronic, not “serious” High B Group 3 Chronic, progressive, eventually fatal illness RAND document WP-137, Living Well at the End of Life: Adapting Health Care to Serious Chronic Illness in Old Age, which can be found online at: http://www.rand.org/pubs/white_papers/WP137/. Used with permission Time Example CHF patients Function “Healthy,” needs acute and preventive care Example Cancer patients Low death Low High C Function Group 1 Function High Time Example Patients with Dementia 3 death Low Time How Americans Die 20% of Americans die4in intensive care units, part of the 50-60% who die in hospitals Palliative Care Philosophy Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life for patients with advanced illness and their families. Palliative care is provided by an interdisciplinary team and offered in conjunction with all other appropriate forms of medical treatment. Palliative care programs structure a variety of hospital resources to effectively deliver the highest quality of care to patients with advanced illness. Source: http://www.capc.org/building-a-hospital-based-palliative-care-program/case/definingpc Palliative Care Goals Assist patients, families, and health care providers with end-of-life decisions. Promote quality of life and provide symptom management regardless of individual goals or prognosis. Balance treatment options with therapeutic palliation Facilitate movement between various healthcare settings or outpatient programs Who is Eligible for Consultation? Any patient suffering with a serious chronic or terminal illness Frail patients at risk for death who would benefit from code status discussions Patients in the ICU who are facing difficult treatment decisions Patients with intractable symptom management issues Patients and families desiring information on end-oflife resources Patients who are actively dying and meet criteria for inpatient hospice ICU Disease States: Who’s Appropriate? Multi-System organ failure Metastatic cancers Cardiac arrest/CRP Pending decision for treatment (trach/PEG/HD/surgery) Prolonged ICU stays/ failure to wean Prolonged hospital stay/ multiple readmissions Advanced age General frailty Isn’t Hospice and Palliative Care Just for Cancer Patients? Palliative Care is for any patient suffering from a life-limiting illness or INJURY Patients who survive the ICU stay may still be at risk for death due to secondary complications Palliative Care can follow these patients throughout their hospital stay and discuss goals, options, code status, and D/C options Is Palliative Care Simply Hospice in the Hospital? Palliative care embraces the idea that some treatment options are necessary despite terminal status Patients electing palliative care in the hospital do not have to enroll in a hospice program after discharge Hospice may be an ultimate decision, but any patient with serious illness can benefit from palliative care services A Bridge to Hospice for Hospitalized Patients Acute care settings can be an optimal setting for introducing hospice discussions Palliative care consultants are experts in endof-life resources and hospice options Palliative care clinicians will facilitate discharge or transfer with hospital discharge planners, physicians, and families Benefits to the Patient Improved quality of life when symptoms are managed Ability to plan for the future when accurate, but compassionate discussions on prognosis and goals take place Avoid unwanted treatments, therapies, hospitalizations, or nursing home placement Avoid excessive financial burdens on their loved ones Benefits to the Provider Palliative care clinicians work with the primary team and other consultants to develop common goals Provide expertise on difficult symptom management issues Allows the primary team to focus on their specialties while P.C. facilitates communication with patients and families Benefits to the Hospital and Health System P.C. consultation may reduce unnecessary utilization of ICU care when treatment goals are clarified prior to “emergencies” Facilitate timely discharge planning Strengthen the health system palliative care and hospice program through clear integration Reduce frequent readmissions for patients with terminal illnesses Special Focus:Geriatric Trauma Western PA/Allegheny County demographics 8th leading cause of mortality for those over age 65 Older patients have worse outcomes despite lesser injuries Implications for long term decline in functional measures Trauma Patients Appropriate for Palliative Care Elderly trauma patients: Geriatric Study Overall mortality in major trauma age 55=15% Mortality increased to 20% at age 75 Mortality from all causes rose with age, but to a lesser extend from falls, possibly due to low-level impact of falls in the elderly Finelli FC, et. Al. Major trauma in geriatric patients. J Trauma 1989;29:541-8 Predictors of Mortality Need for early intubation Presence of shock (SBP<90) Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) Severe head injury Research: Elderly patients with GCS<5: Mortality 79% Younger patients with GCS<5: Mortality 38% Pennings JL, et al. Survival after severe brain injury in the aged. Arch Surg 1993:128:787-94 Predictors of Mortality Comorbidities and Complications Cardiovascular complications tripled mortality Pulmonary complications doubled mortality Injury severity scores predicted: ARDS Pneumonia Sepsis GI complications ARDS,sepsis, and MI are significant risk factors for mortality Tornetta P, et al. Morbidity and mortality in elderly trauma patients. J Trauma 1989;29:541-8 Defining Diminishing Functional Status Karnofsky Score < 50% Dependence in at least 3 of 6 ADLs 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. Bathing Dressing Feeding Transfers Continence of stool/urine Ability to ambulate independently Impaired Nutritional Status Unintentional progressive weight loss greater than 10% over 6 months Serum albumin less than 2.5 gm/dl Progressive dysphagia Decision not to pursue artificial feedings Dementia Death usually occurs as result of other comorbidities Should have all of the following: Unable to dress without assistance Unable to bathe properly Urinary or fecal incontinence Unable to speak or communicate meaningfully Dementia Related Complications Aspiration pneumonia Pyelonephritis or upper urinary tract infection Septicemia Stage III-IV decubitus ulcers Fever recurrent after antibiotics Malnutrition/wt. loss over 6 months Stroke/Coma/SDH Coma or PVS > 3 days secondary to CVA Post-anoxic event accompanied by severe myoclonus 3 days post event Comatose patients with any 4 of the following on day 3 of coma have estimated 97% mortality 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Abnormal brain stem response Absent verbal response Absent withdrawal response to pain Serum creatinine >1.5 mg/dl Age>70 Stroke and Coma (..cont) Chronic stroke Age > 70 Karnofsky >50% Poor nutritional status (>10% wt loss/ albumin<2.5mg/dl) Dysphasia Medical complications: Aspiration pneumonia Upper UTI Stage III-IV decubitus ulcers Fever recurrent after antibiotics Hospice Eligibility: Terminal Prognosis Two MDs (Primary MD + Hospice Medical Director) must certify that the patient’s prognosis is < 6 months Patients can eventually live > 6 months and continue hospice The MD/ Hospice team must show progressive decline prior to enrolling into new benefit periods Signs of Imminent Death Anuric - no dialysis (if primary dx) Confusion/delirium with no obvious cause No or minimal intake Chyene-Stokes resp., mottled skin, cool extremities Pooled oropharyngeal secretions (death rattle) Comatose or extreme lethargy Discontinuation of all life-prolonging therapies Various Levels of Hospice Care Home Hospice Most typical experience for patients “going home” Curative treatments are stopped Palliative treatments can be continued Prognosis is less than 6 months Patients can remain on hospice longer than 6 months if still declining Is often arranged from the acute care setting, MD’s office, or when requested from home Home Palliative Care In the community: Home Palliative Care Six months prognosis not necessary Delivered by hospice nurses Treatment can still be an option Must still meet skilled care needs set by insurances for home nursing care Often for the patient who is “not ready for hospice” Palliative Care Intervention Study: Part 1 Within 24 hours of admission to TICU: Bereavement and psycho-social support Interdisciplinary Palliative Care assessment Prognosis discussions Advanced directive discussion Pain and symptom management interventions Family needs assessment Mosenthal AC, Murphy PA. Changing the Culture Around End-of-Life Care in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Journal of Trauma. 2008;64:1587-1593 Integrating Palliative Care Into the ICU Within 72 hours of admission to TICU: Interdisciplinary meeting with MD/nurse End-of-life care for the dying Communicate likely outcomes Goals of care discussion Assess family understanding Palliative Care order set Ventilator withdrawal guideline Integration of Palliative Care performance into M&M conferences with peer review Mosenthal AC, Murphy PA. Changing the Culture Around End-of-Life Care in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Journal of Trauma. 2008;64:1587-1593 Palliative Care Integration: Results Timing of DNR orders from admission to DNR: 20 days in the control vs. 7 days in the intervention No change in mortality rate Shorter length of stay for dying patients: Reduced by 1.5 ICU days Family meetings held in 62% of deaths Conflicts around end-of-life decisions documented only in 2.4% Of meetings Discussion on pain/symptoms during rounds increased: 35% control vs. 55% during intervention Mosenthal AC, Murphy PA. Changing the Culture Around End-of-Life Care in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit. Journal of Trauma. 2008;64:1587-1593 Terminal Weans “ 1. Morphine drip 2mg/hour..titrate to comfort” “2. Extubate patient” Purpose 1. To prevent respiratory distress/dyspnea as treatment is withdrawn 2. To minimize the patient’s pain and suffering 3. To minimize the patient’s fear and anxiety 4. To provide maximal patient and family emotional/spiritual support at end of life Three General Principles on End-of-Life Symptom Management Any given symptom is as distressing to the patient as that person claims it to be All treatments, their risks, benefits & alternatives need to be discussed in context of the dying person’s values, culture, goals, and fears When death is near, the exact cause of any given symptom is irrelevant, and investigations are usually pointless (Ian Anderson Continuing Education Program in End-of-Life Care) Definitions Ventilator Support Withdrawal- The act of removing ventilator support from a patient after it has been clearly determined that the goals of care are comfort-focused only. It is accepted that the act of removing support will likely end with death within a relatively short period of time. Two methods have been described (von Gunten, 2001): Immediate extubation and terminal weaning. von Gunten C and Weissman D.E. Fast Facts and Concepts #33: Ventilator Withdrawal Protocol, January, 2001. End-of-Life Physician Education Resource Center www.eperc.mcw.edu. Definitions Ventilator Wean- The process of reducing the amount of ventilator support over a given period of time. The goal is to ultimately achieve a respiratory state where the patient can breathe independently or with supplemental assistance from devices other than a ventilator. Case Example Mrs. B: 77 y.o. with advanced COPD Plan for terminal wean after previous failed attempts to wean from ventilator Discussions with family about comfort care, and terminal wean Assured the family that the patient would be comfortable Case Example (Cont.) Orders: Morphine drip 2mg titrate q 15 minutes to comfort Morphine 2mg IV q 1hour prn Extubate Case Example (Cont.) Outcomes: After extubation: patient with labored respirations, and moderate to severe secretions MD paged after extubation, and another order obtained for Morphine 2mg IV now and q 30 minutes prn Daughter at bedside extremely distraught by sight of respiratory struggle Patient died 15 minutes post-extubation Case Example How could this be avoided? Anticipate symptoms: Start opioid infusion at least 1-2 hours before extubation Bolus 2-4 mg Morphine 15 minutes before extubation PRN dosing should be q 15 minutes prn RR>24 or signs of SOB Consider Benzodiazepine bolus 15-30 minutes pre-extubation Administer anticholinergic (ie:Atropine) 30-60 minutes preextubation Stop IV fluids and/or tube feedings several hours pre-extubation Elevate HOB >45 degrees MD should ideally be on unit or readily accessible by page RN at bedside post-extubation and medications ready Administer oxygen facemask or nasal canula Ethical/Legal Issues Is this process euthanasia? Hydration and nutrition questions/issues Nursing perspectives In terminal weans for non-terminally-ill patients, only patients or POAs can provide consent Morphine Drips: General Information Morphine drips can be a very useful tool to treat pain and shortness of breath When titrated carefully, there is no set limit to dosing Dosing limits are determined by side effects All actively dying patients do NOT need a morphine drip Unrestricted “titrate to comfort” orders should be avoided Clearly understand and discuss the intent of morphine drips with families The goal is never to hasten death BOLUS, BOLUS, BOLUS 1st, adjust drip rate later Patients Previously on Opioids Establish 24 hour baseline requirements Administer at least their hourly basal rate, and likely 50% more Example: Lung CA patient on MS Contin 100 mg TID Equivalent: 300mg po/day or 100 mg IV/day Baseline infusion 4-5 mg IV Morphine per hour 1-2 hour prns can be @ 10-15% of 24 hour dose and if needed, interval can be every 15 min PRN for terminal weans Why Not “titrate to comfort?” Patients do not receive acute pain relief Morphine half-life is 2-3 hours 10-15 hours to reach steady-state Patients end up with too much drug Unwanted side effects from higher doses Many patients can be maintained with prn dosing or stable infusion doses Example of Morphine potency: Morphine drip 1mg/hr=(24 mg IV/day) OR (72mg po/day) Morphine drip 5mg/hr=(120 mg IV/day) OR (360 mg po/day) General Care Guidelines Stop unnecessary tests, procedures, meds Do not restrict visitation Increase communication and support Confirm/establish goals & code status Consider hospice or palliative care referral Move focus to comfort Consider move to private room if stable Initiate discussions on “what to expect” Be prepared for the worst, but some patients can live for hours, even days General Care Guidelines Respiratory: Elevate HOB Stop pulse-oximetry and monitors Oxygen for comfort (use least invasive means possible) Manage secretions (gentle oral suction, avoid deep suction) Atropine Scopolamine Levsin Lasix Manage dyspnea Morphine (gold standard) Ativan End-of-Life Communication and Goals of Care S P I K E S Setting Perception Invitation Knowledge Empathy Summary/Strategy Providing Real Facts about CPR in the Elderly The portrayal of CPR on TV may lead the viewing public to have an unrealistic impression of the chances of success of CPR On one TV series, 75% of patients survive CPR with 67% appearing to survive to discharge In real life for elderly patients 22% may survive initial resuscitation 10-17% may survive to discharge, most with impaired function 1. 2. 3. 4. Chronic illness, more than age, determines prognosis (<5% survival) Annals Int Med 1989; 111:199-205 Diem SH, Lantos JD, Tulsky JA. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation on television – miracles and misinformation, N Engl J Med 1996; 335:1578-1582. W. T. Longstreth Jr; L. A. Cobb; C. E. Fahrenbruch; M. K. Copass. Does age affect outcomes of out-of-hospital 48 cardiopulmonary resuscitation? JAMA. 1990;264:2109-2110.4. EPEC Project RWJ Foundation, 1999 CPR: Poor Prognosis Unwitnessed Arrest Asystole Electrical-Mechanical Dissociation >15 minutes resuscitation Metastatic Cancer Multiple Chronic Diseases Sepsis 49 Questions and Comments ?