STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the policy and practice of anesthesiology departments in regard to their management of the presurgical do-not-resuscitate (DNR) patient. DESIGN: Questionnaire distributed to the program directors of 156 accredited residency programs in anesthesiology in the contiguous United States. SETTING: University hospital. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred twelve of the 156 accredited U.S. programs responded to the questionnaire. The majority (81%) of programs that have a DNR policy for the presurgical patient suspend the order prior to surgery. However, only 50% of the institutions responding have standing policies, and of those that do not, only 40% plan to initiate such a policy. CONCLUSIONS: The need for a written policy for the DNR patient undergoing surgery is exemplified by the low percentage of institutions that have existing policies.
STUDY OBJECTIVE: To assess the policy and practice of anesthesiology departments in regard to their management of the presurgical do-not-resuscitate (DNR) patient. DESIGN: Questionnaire distributed to the program directors of 156 accredited residency programs in anesthesiology in the contiguous United States. SETTING: University hospital. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: One hundred twelve of the 156 accredited U.S. programs responded to the questionnaire. The majority (81%) of programs that have a DNR policy for the presurgical patient suspend the order prior to surgery. However, only 50% of the institutions responding have standing policies, and of those that do not, only 40% plan to initiate such a policy. CONCLUSIONS: The need for a written policy for the DNR patient undergoing surgery is exemplified by the low percentage of institutions that have existing policies.