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Published on: January 17, 2011
[Withdrawal of assisted ventilation in the home: making decisions in paediatric palliative care]
A García-Salido1, M Monleón-Luque2, M Barceló-Escario2
1Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España; Unidad de Cuidados Paliativos Pediátricos, Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, España.
Insights
Pediatric end-of-life care is evolving with advanced technology. Multidisciplinary teams providing 24/7 home care can improve quality of life and reduce hospitalizations for children with serious illnesses.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Palliative Care
- Medical Ethics
- Home Healthcare
Background:
- Increasing use of high-technology interventions in pediatric palliative care.
- Growing need for specialized end-of-life care services for children.
- Focus on improving quality of life for children with life-limiting conditions.
Observation:
- Multidisciplinary care teams offering 24/7 home care can potentially reduce hospital admissions.
- Adaptation of treatment plans is crucial for better quality of life and avoiding readmissions.
- Case study focuses on decision-making and withdrawal of mechanical ventilation at home.
Findings:
- Successful home-based withdrawal of mechanical ventilation requires careful planning and execution.
- Effective decision-making processes involve families and healthcare providers.
- Comprehensive clinical management until death is essential for patient and family support.
Implications:
- Home-based end-of-life care can be a viable alternative to prolonged hospitalization.
- Enhanced support for multidisciplinary teams can facilitate complex care decisions at home.
- This approach may set a precedent for pediatric palliative care, prioritizing patient comfort and family wishes.
Abstract:
End-of-life care is of growing interest in Paediatrics. The number of children with diseases being treated using high-technology as palliative treatment has also increased. The creation of multidisciplinary care teams with 24/7 hours home care may prevent prolonged hospital stays in these patients. To adapt the treatment in order to avoid new hospital admissions and to obtain a better quality of life is a desirable objective. The taking of decisions and subsequent withdrawal of mechanical ventilation in the home is presented, along with the underlying disease and the acute event that led to the worsening of the patient. The decision-making and clinical management until the death of the patient is then discussed and reviewed.
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