Resuscitation: how do we decide? A prospective study of physicians' preferences and the clinical course of hospitalized patients

Abstract

Physicians have to address the question of the measures to be employed in the event that a patient's condition deteriorates after admission to the hospital. To identify the information that physicians use in making such decisions, all 604 patients admitted to the medical service during a one-month period were studied. The patient's age and residents' estimates of the patient's long-term prognosis and ability to function were the three primary factors that correlated with intervention preferences. When illness severity, the reason for admission, comorbidity, and poor function were taken into account, mortality and morbidity rates did not differ between patients for whom full vs not-full intervention was favored. Apart from differential rates of admission to critical care units, there were no important differences in the care, course, or mortality of patients for whom less than full intervention was initially favored. Suggestions that physicians should discuss resuscitation with all or most patients who may die are unrealistic. A more prudent strategy is to discuss the issue with patients whose hospital course is marked by a steady deterioration.

KIE: A study was undertaken to identify the determinants of physicians' decisions about the treatment status of all patients admitted to the medical service of the New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center during a one-month period. It was found that the patient's age, prognosis, and functional status were the main factors considered in assigning "full" vs. "not-full" intervention. Within prognostically similar groups, there was no significant difference in mortality rates between "full" and "not-full" intervention patients. Except for admission to intensive care units the level of care was not lower for "not-full" intervention patients. The investigators conclude that, because most severely ill patients survive and patient participation in resuscitation decisions is psychologically stressful, the optimal strategy is to limit initiation of such discussions to those patients whose hospital course is marked by a steady deterioration.