Palliative Care Involvement in Patients with Operative Mortality After Cardiac Surgery
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1532/hsf.3255Keywords:
cardiac surgery, palliative care, operative mortalityAbstract
Background: The aim of this study was to examine palliative care involvement in patients with operative mortality after cardiac surgery, to gain a better understanding of this high-risk population and factors influencing referral.
Methods: This is a retrospective review using data submitted to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons National Database.
Results: The total study population included 93 patients with operative mortality, only 30% of whom had palliative care involvement. The median time from first palliative care involvement to death was 6 days. Nearly 40% of patients had a status labeled as elective at the time of surgery.
Conclusion: Our findings suggest that patient mortality risk for elective surgery is being underestimated, or the indications for palliative care consultation in high-risk patients is going unrecognized. Such knowledge may facilitate earlier palliative care involvement, with the goal of improved quality of life for cardiac patients.
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