BACKGROUND: Given the serious nature of many neurosurgical pathologies, it is common for hospitalized patients to elect comfort care (CC) over aggressive treatment. Few studies have evaluated the incidence and risk factors of CC trends in patients admitted for neurosurgical emergencies. OBJECTIVES: To analyze all neurosurgical patients admitted to a tertiary care academic referral center via the emergency department (ED) to determine incidence and characteristics of those who initiated CC measures during their initial hospital admission. METHODS: We performed a prospective, cohort analysis of all consecutive adult patients admitted to the neurosurgical service via the ED between October 2018 and May 2019. The primary outcome was the initiation of CC measures during the patient's hospital admission. CC was defined as cessation of life-sustaining measures and a shift in focus to maintaining the comfort and dignity of the patient. RESULTS: Of the 428 patients admitted during the 7-month period, 29 (6.8%) initiated CC measures within 4.0 ± 4.0 days of admission. Patients who entered CC were significantly more likely to have a medical history of cerebrovascular disease (58.6% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.006), dementia (17.2% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.0004), or cancer with metastatic disease (24.1% vs. 7.0%, p = 0.001). Patients with a presenting pathology associated with cerebrovascular disease were significantly more likely to initiate CC (62.1% vs. 35.3, p = 0.04). Patients who underwent emergent surgery were significantly more likely to enter CC compared with those who had elective surgery (80.0% vs. 42.7%, p = 0.02). Only 10 of the 29 (34.5%) patients who initiated CC underwent a neurosurgical operation (p = 0.002). Twenty of the 29 (69.0%) patients died within 0.8 ± 0.8 days after the initiation of CC measures. CONCLUSION: CC measures were initiated in 6.8% of patients admitted to the neurosurgical service via the ED, with the majority of patients entering CC before an operation and presenting with a cerebrovascular pathology.
BACKGROUND: Given the serious nature of many neurosurgical pathologies, it is common for hospitalized patients to elect comfort care (CC) over aggressive treatment. Few studies have evaluated the incidence and risk factors of CC trends in patients admitted for neurosurgical emergencies. OBJECTIVES: To analyze all neurosurgical patients admitted to a tertiary care academic referral center via the emergency department (ED) to determine incidence and characteristics of those who initiated CC measures during their initial hospital admission. METHODS: We performed a prospective, cohort analysis of all consecutive adult patients admitted to the neurosurgical service via the ED between October 2018 and May 2019. The primary outcome was the initiation of CC measures during the patient's hospital admission. CC was defined as cessation of life-sustaining measures and a shift in focus to maintaining the comfort and dignity of the patient. RESULTS: Of the 428 patients admitted during the 7-month period, 29 (6.8%) initiated CC measures within 4.0 ± 4.0 days of admission. Patients who entered CC were significantly more likely to have a medical history of cerebrovascular disease (58.6% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.006), dementia (17.2% vs. 1.5%, p = 0.0004), or cancer with metastatic disease (24.1% vs. 7.0%, p = 0.001). Patients with a presenting pathology associated with cerebrovascular disease were significantly more likely to initiate CC (62.1% vs. 35.3, p = 0.04). Patients who underwent emergent surgery were significantly more likely to enter CC compared with those who had elective surgery (80.0% vs. 42.7%, p = 0.02). Only 10 of the 29 (34.5%) patients who initiated CC underwent a neurosurgical operation (p = 0.002). Twenty of the 29 (69.0%) patients died within 0.8 ± 0.8 days after the initiation of CC measures. CONCLUSION: CC measures were initiated in 6.8% of patients admitted to the neurosurgical service via the ED, with the majority of patients entering CC before an operation and presenting with a cerebrovascular pathology.
Authors: Gregory W Albers; Michael P Marks; Stephanie Kemp; Soren Christensen; Jenny P Tsai; Santiago Ortega-Gutierrez; Ryan A McTaggart; Michel T Torbey; May Kim-Tenser; Thabele Leslie-Mazwi; Amrou Sarraj; Scott E Kasner; Sameer A Ansari; Sharon D Yeatts; Scott Hamilton; Michael Mlynash; Jeremy J Heit; Greg Zaharchuk; Sun Kim; Janice Carrozzella; Yuko Y Palesch; Andrew M Demchuk; Roland Bammer; Philip W Lavori; Joseph P Broderick; Maarten G Lansberg Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2018-01-24 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Stephen P Miranda; Rachelle E Bernacki; Joanna M Paladino; Andrew D Norden; Jane E Kavanagh; Marissa C Palmor; Susan D Block Journal: Am J Hosp Palliat Care Date: 2017-11-09 Impact factor: 2.500
Authors: Joseph R Linzey; James F Burke; Jeffrey L Nadel; Craig A Williamson; Luis E Savastano; D Andrew Wilkinson; Aditya S Pandey Journal: J Neurosurg Date: 2018-12-14 Impact factor: 5.115
Authors: Marjolein Geurts; Malcolm R Macleod; Ghislaine J M W van Thiel; Jan van Gijn; L Jaap Kappelle; H Bart van der Worp Journal: Lancet Neurol Date: 2014-03-25 Impact factor: 44.182
Authors: Andrea Pace; Linda Dirven; Johan A F Koekkoek; Heidrun Golla; Jane Fleming; Roberta Rudà; Christine Marosi; Emilie Le Rhun; Robin Grant; Kathy Oliver; Ingela Oberg; Helen J Bulbeck; Alasdair G Rooney; Roger Henriksson; H Roeline W Pasman; Stefan Oberndorfer; Michael Weller; Martin J B Taphoorn Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2017-06 Impact factor: 54.433
Authors: Marjolein Geurts; Floor A S de Kort; Paul L M de Kort; Julia H van Tuijl; L Jaap Kappelle; H Bart van der Worp Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-09-29 Impact factor: 3.240