Search

Advance care planning (ACP) intends to support person-centered medical decision-making by eliciting patient preferences. Research has not identified significant associations between ACP and goal-concordant end-of-life care, leading to justified scientific debate regarding ACP utility.To delineate ACP's potential benefits and missed opportunities and identify an evidence-informed, clinically relevant path ahead for ACP in serious illness.We conducted a narrative review merging the best available ACP empirical data, grey literature, and emergent scholarly discourse using a snowball search of PubMed, Medline, and Google Scholar (2000-2022). Findings were informed by our team's interprofessional clinical and research expertise in serious illness care.Early ACP practices were largely tied to mandated document completion, potentially failing to capture the holistic preferences of patients and surrogates. ACP models focused on serious illness communication rather than documentation show promising patient and clinician results. Ideally, ACP would lead to goal-concordant care even amid the unpredictability of serious illness trajectories. But ACP might also provide a false sense of security that patients' wishes will be honored and revisited at end-of-life. An iterative, 'building block' framework to integrate ACP throughout serious illness is provided alongside clinical practice, research, and policy recommendations.We advocate a balanced approach to ACP, recognizing empirical deficits while acknowledging potential benefits and ethical imperatives (e.g., fostering clinician-patient trust and shared decision-making). We support prioritizing patient/surrogate-centered outcomes with more robust measures to account for interpersonal clinician-patient variables that likely inform ACP efficacy and may better evaluate information gleaned during serious illness encounters.

To investigate the pandemic's impact on critically ill patients with neurological emergencies, we compared care metrics and outcomes of patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) before and during the initial COVID-19 surge at our institution. We included adult patients with SABI during two separate three-month time periods: 'pre-COVID vs COVID'. We further stratified the COVID cohort to characterize outcomes in patients requiring COVID-19 precautions (Patient Under Investigation, 'PUI'). The primary endpoint was in-hospital mortality; secondary endpoints included length of stay (LOS), diagnostic studies performed, time to emergent decompressive craniectomies (DCHC), ventilator management, and end-of-life care. We included 394 patients and found the overall number of admissions for SABI declined by 29 % during COVID (pre-COVID n = 231 vs COVID, n = 163). Our primary outcome of mortality and most secondary outcomes were similar between study periods. There were more frequent extubation attempts (72.1 % vs 76 %) and the mean time to extubation was shorter during COVID (55.5 h vs 38.2 h). The ICU LOS (6.10 days vs 4.69 days) and hospital LOS (15.32 days vs 11.74 days) was shorter during COVID. More PUIs died than non-PUIs (51.7 % vs 11.2 %), but when adjusted for markers of illness severity, this was not significant. We demonstrate the ability to maintain a consistent care delivery for patients with SABI during the pandemic at our institution. PUIs represent a population with higher illness severity at risk for delays in care. Multicenter, longitudinal studies are needed to explore the impact of the pandemic on patients with acute neurological emergencies.

© 2022 American Academy of Hospice and Palliative MedicineContext: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted variability in intensity of care. We aimed to characterize intensity of care among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Objectives: Examine the prevalence and predictors of admission code status, palliative care consultation, comfort-measures-only orders, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) among patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Methods: This cross-sectional study examined data from an international registry of hospitalized patients with COVID-19. A proportional odds model evaluated predictors of more aggressive code status (i.e., Full Code) vs. less (i.e., Do Not Resuscitate, DNR). Among decedents, logistic regression was used to identify predictors of palliative care consultation, comfort measures only, and CPR at time of death. Results: We included 29,923 patients across 179 sites. Among those with admission code status documented, Full Code was selected by 90% (n = 15,273). Adjusting for site, Full Code was more likely for patients who were of Black or Asian race (ORs 1.82, 95% CIs 1.5–2.19; 1.78, 1.15–3.09 respectively, relative to White race), Hispanic ethnicity (OR 1.89, CI 1.35–2.32), and male sex (OR 1.16, CI 1.0–1.33). Of the 4951 decedents, 29% received palliative care consultation, 59% transitioned to comfort measures only, and 29% received CPR, with non-White racial and ethnic groups less likely to receive comfort measures only and more likely to receive CPR. Conclusion: In this international cohort of patients with COVID-19, Full Code was the initial code status in the majority, and more likely among patients who were Black or Asian race, Hispanic ethnicity or male. These results provide direction for future studies to improve these disparities in care.

To assess the risk of hematoma expansion in patients with acute intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) requiring therapeutic anticoagulation for the treatment of venous thromboembolism.We retrospectively reviewed all patients at our institution between 2014 and 2019 who were therapeutically anticoagulated for venous thromboembolism within 4 weeks after ICH. We included subtypes of traumatic ICH and spontaneous intraparenchymal hemorrhage. Our main outcome was the incidence of hematoma expansion within 14 days from initiating therapeutic anticoagulation. Hematoma expansion was defined as (1) radiographically proven expansion leading to cessation of therapeutic anticoagulation or (2) death due to hematoma expansion. Secondary outcomes included mortality due to hematoma expansion and characteristics associated with hematoma expansion.Fifty patients met inclusion criteria (mean age: 54 years, 80% male, 76% Caucasian); 24% had undergone a neurosurgical procedure prior to therapeutic anticoagulation. Median time from ICH to therapeutic anticoagulation initiation was 9.5 days (IQR 4-17), 40% received therapeutic anticoagulation in 7 days after ICH. Six patients (12%) developed hematoma expansion, of whom two (4%) died. While not statistically significant, patients with hematoma expansion tended to be older (57.8 vs. 53.5 years), were anticoagulated sooner (4 vs. 10 days), presented with lower GCS (50% vs. 39% with GCS8), higher hematoma volume (50% vs. 42%30 cc), and higher SDH diameter (16 mm vs. 8.35 mm). There was a trend towards greater risk of hematoma expansion for patients undergoing endoscopic ICH evacuation (16% vs. 2%,Our study is among the first to explore characteristics associated with hematoma expansion in patients undergoing therapeutic anticoagulation after acute ICH. Larger studies in different ICH subtypes are needed to identify determinants of hematoma expansion in this high-acuity population.

Stroke is a leading cause of both death and disability worldwide. While most research has focused on the first hours to days after acute stroke, much less is known about the experience of patients and their families living after a stroke. Stroke survivors have a high burden of physical and psychological symptoms such as pain, fatigue, and depression that are often not addressed in the postacute setting. Similarly, goals-of-care conversations that may have started during the acute hospitalization are often not followed up later. This chapter outlines the prevalence and management of common poststroke symptoms, approaches to postacute goals-of-care conversations, family needs after stroke, and provides an overview of stroke-specific hospice and end-of-life care aspects. We emphasize the need for research in each of these areas.

The original article has been updated to correct Row 2 of Table 4 “04-Jul” to “4–7”. in press

Background Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS) often carries a favorable prognosis. Of adult patients with GBS, 10–30% require mechanical ventilation during the acute phase of the disease. After the acute phase, the focus shifts to restoration of motor strength, ambulation, and neurological function, with variable speed and degree of recovery. The objective of these guidelines is to provide recommendations on the reliability of select clinical predictors that serve as the basis of neuroprognostication and provide guidance to clinicians counseling adult patients with GBS and/or their surrogates. Methods A narrative systematic review was completed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Candidate predictors, including clinical variables and prediction models, were selected based on clinical relevance and presence of appropriate body of evidence. The Population/Intervention/Comparator/Outcome/Time frame/Setting (PICOTS) question was framed as follows: “When counseling patients or surrogates of critically ill patients with Guillain–Barré syndrome, should [predictor, with time of assessment if appropriate] be considered a reliable predictor of [outcome, with time frame of assessment]?” Additional full-text screening criteria were used to exclude small and lower quality studies. Following construction of an evidence profile and summary of findings, recommendations were based on four GRADE criteria: quality of evidence, balance of desirable and undesirable consequences, values and preferences, and resource use. In addition, good practice recommendations addressed essential principles of neuroprognostication that could not be framed in PICOTS format. Results Eight candidate clinical variables and six prediction models were selected. A total of 45 articles met our eligibility criteria to guide recommendations. We recommend bulbar weakness (the degree of motor weakness at disease nadir) and the Erasmus GBS Respiratory Insufficiency Score as moderately reliable for prediction of the need for mechanical ventilation. The Erasmus GBS Outcome Score (EGOS) and modified EGOS were identified as moderately reliable predictors of independent ambulation at 3 months and beyond. Good practice recommendations include consideration of both acute and recovery phases of the disease during prognostication, discussion of the possible need for mechanical ventilation and enteral nutrition during counseling, and consideration of the complete clinical condition as opposed to a single variable during prognostication. Conclusions These guidelines provide recommendations on the reliability of predictors of the need for mechanical ventilation, poor functional outcome, and independent ambulation following GBS in the context of counseling patients and/or surrogates and suggest broad principles of neuroprognostication. Few predictors were considered moderately reliable based on the available body of evidence, and higher quality data are needed.

Background Among cardiac arrest survivors, about half remain comatose 72 h following return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC). Prognostication of poor neurological outcome in this population may result in withdrawal of life-sustaining therapy and death. The objective of this article is to provide recommendations on the reliability of select clinical predictors that serve as the basis of neuroprognostication and provide guidance to clinicians counseling surrogates of comatose cardiac arrest survivors. Methods A narrative systematic review was completed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) methodology. Candidate predictors, which included clinical variables and prediction models, were selected based on clinical relevance and the presence of an appropriate body of evidence. The Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Timing, Setting (PICOTS) question was framed as follows: “When counseling surrogates of comatose adult survivors of cardiac arrest, should [predictor, with time of assessment if appropriate] be considered a reliable predictor of poor functional outcome assessed at 3 months or later?” Additional full-text screening criteria were used to exclude small and lower-quality studies. Following construction of the evidence profile and summary of findings, recommendations were based on four GRADE criteria: quality of evidence, balance of desirable and undesirable consequences, values and preferences, and resource use. In addition, good practice recommendations addressed essential principles of neuroprognostication that could not be framed in PICOTS format. Results Eleven candidate clinical variables and three prediction models were selected based on clinical relevance and the presence of an appropriate body of literature. A total of 72 articles met our eligibility criteria to guide recommendations. Good practice recommendations include waiting 72 h following ROSC/rewarming prior to neuroprognostication, avoiding sedation or other confounders, the use of multimodal assessment, and an extended period of observation for awakening in patients with an indeterminate prognosis, if consistent with goals of care. The bilateral absence of pupillary light response > 72 h from ROSC and the bilateral absence of N20 response on somatosensory evoked potential testing were identified as reliable predictors. Computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain > 48 h from ROSC and electroencephalography > 72 h from ROSC were identified as moderately reliable predictors. Conclusions These guidelines provide recommendations on the reliability of predictors of poor outcome in the context of counseling surrogates of comatose survivors of cardiac arrest and suggest broad principles of neuroprognostication. Few predictors were considered reliable or moderately reliable based on the available body of evidence.

The palliative care needs of inpatients with neurologic illness are varied, depending on diagnosis, acuity of illness, available treatment options, prognosis, and goals of care. Inpatient neurologists ought to be proficient at providing primary palliative care and effective at determining when palliative care consultants are needed. In the acute setting, palliative care should be integrated with lifesaving treatments using a framework of determining goals of care, thoughtfully prognosticating, and engaging in shared decision-making. This framework remains important when aggressive treatments are not desired or not available, or when patients are admitted to the hospital for conditions related to advanced stages of chronic neurologic disease. Because prognostic uncertainty characterizes much of neurology, inpatient neurologists must develop communication strategies that account for uncertainty while supporting shared decision-making and allowing patients and families to preserve hope. In this article, we illustrate the approach to palliative care in inpatient neurology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article reviews the evidence on integrating palliative care into the care of patients with various types of serious neurologic illness, emphasizes the importance of palliative care in the neurocritical care unit, and suggests tools for clinicians to improve their communication skills and decision making. RECENT FINDINGS Palliative care is a holistic approach to medical care that aims to relieve physical, psychological, social, and spiritual suffering. It is both a medical specialty as young as neurocritical care itself and an approach to patient care by all clinicians who manage patients with serious illness. Patients presenting to the neurocritical care unit and their families have unique palliative care needs that challenge communication and shared decision making. SUMMARY Palliative care, effective communication, and shared decision making require a set of core skills that all neurology clinicians should master.

Observational studies have shown endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke to be effective in the elderly, despite resulting in poorer outcomes and higher rates of mortality compared with younger patients. Randomized data on the effect of advanced age on outcomes following EVT are, however, lacking. Our aim was to assess the EVT effect for ischemic stroke in patients aged ≥85 years and the influence of age on outcome in a large, randomized trial dataset.Data were from the HERMES (Highly Effective Reperfusion Evaluated in Multiple Endovascular Stroke Trials) collaboration, a meta-analysis of 7 randomized trials published between January 1, 2010, and May 31, 2017, that tested the efficacy of EVT. A possible multiplicative interaction effect of age on the relationship between treatment and outcome was investigated. Ordinal logistic regression tested the association between EVT and 90-day functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale, primary outcome) in patients ≥85 years. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to compare primary and secondary outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-2/5-6) of patients ≥85 years versus those85 years.We included 1764 patients in the analysis, of whom 77 (4.4%) were ≥85 years old. A significant interaction of age and treatment on poor outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 5-6,Patients ≥85 years old with independent premorbid function more often achieve good functional outcomes and have lower rates of mortality when treated with EVT compared with conservative management, with an observed treatment effect modification of age on outcome. EVT should therefore not be withheld in this subgroup.

ImportanceFamily members of patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) are at risk for poor psychological outcomes.ObjectiveTo explore the utility of the early use of a palliative care needs checklist in identifying care needs of patients with SABI and family members who are at risk of poor psychological outcomes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis prospective cohort study included patients with SABI in an intensive care unit (ICU) for 2 days or more and a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 12 or lower and their family members. This single-center study was conducted at an academic hospital in Seattle, Washington, from January 2018 to June 2021. Data were analyzed from July 2021 to July 2022.ExposureAt enrollment, a 4-item palliative care needs checklist was completed separately by clinicians and family members.Main Outcomes and MeasuresA single family member for each enrolled patient completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of depression and anxiety, perception of goal-concordant care, and satisfaction in the ICU. Six months later, family members assessed their psychological symptoms, decisional regret, patient functional outcome, and patient quality of life (QOL).ResultsA total of 209 patient–family member pairs (family member mean [SD] age, 51 [16] years; 133 women [64%]; 18 Asian [9%], 21 Black [10%], 20 [10%] Hispanic, and 153 White [73%] participants) were included. Patients had experienced stroke (126 [60%]), traumatic brain injury (62 [30%]), and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (21 [10%]). At least 1 need was identified for 185 patients or their families (88%) by family members and 110 (53%) by clinicians (κ = −0.007; 52% agreement). Symptoms of at least moderate anxiety or depression were present in 50% of family members at enrollment (87 with anxiety and 94 with depression) and 20% at follow-up (33 with anxiety and 29 with depression). After adjustment for patient age, diagnosis, and disease severity and family race and ethnicity, clinician identification of any need was associated with greater goal discordance (203 participants; relative risk = 1.7 [95% CI, 1.2 to 2.5]) and family decisional regret (144 participants; difference in means, 17 [95% CI, 5 to 29] points). Family member identification of any need was associated with greater symptoms of depression at follow-up (150 participants; difference in means of Patient Health Questionnaire–2, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.2 to 1.3] points) and worse perceived patient QOL (78 participants; difference in means, −17.1 [95% CI, −33.6 to −0.5] points).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this prospective cohort study of patients with SABI and their families, palliative care needs were common, although agreement on needs was poor between clinicians and family members. A palliative care needs checklist completed by clinicians and family members may improve communication and promote timely, targeted management of needs.

Objective: To examine racial and ethnic differences in the utilization of 3 interventions (tracheostomy placement, gastrostomy tube placement, and hospice utilization) among patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI). Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Data from the National Inpatient Sample, from 2002 to 2012. Patients: Adult patients with SABI defined as a primary diagnosis of stroke, traumatic brain injury, or post-cardiac arrest who received greater than 96 hours of mechanical ventilation. Exposure: Race/ethnicity, stratified into 5 categories (white, black, Hispanic, Asian, and other). Measurements and Main Results: Data from 86 246 patients were included in the cohort, with a mean (standard deviation) age of 60 (18) years. In multivariable analysis, compared to white patients, black patients had an 20% increased risk of tracheostomy utilization (relative risk [RR]: 1.20, 95% CI: 1.16-1.24, P < .001), Hispanic patients had a 10% increased risk (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.06-1.14, P < .001), Asian patients had an 8% increased risk (RR: 1.08, 95% CI: 1.01-1.16, P = .02), and other race patients had an 10% increased risk (RR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.16, P < .001). A similar relationship was observed for gastrostomy utilization. In multivariable analysis, compared to white patients, black patients had a 25% decreased risk of hospice discharge (RR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.67-0.85, P < .001), Hispanic patients had a 20% decreased risk (RR: 0.80, 95% CI: 0.69-0.94, P < .01), and Asian patients had a 47% decreased risk (RR: 0.53, 95% CI: 0.39-0.73, P < .001). There was no observed relationship between race/ethnicity and in-hospital mortality. Conclusions: Minority race was associated with increased utilization of tracheostomy and gastrostomy, as well as decreased hospice utilization among patients with SABI. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms underlying these race-based differences in critical care.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is profoundly affecting neurology patients, families, and providers through direct neurologic complications,1 indirect consequences of COVID-19 on healthcare delivery,2 and the consequences of social distancing.3 As frontline providers, neurologists see both the medical consequences of COVID-19 and its toll in heightening personal suffering ranging from interruptions or changes in standard therapies4 to patients facing isolation in the hospital and even the prospect of dying without the family being present.5 Almost instantly, the calculus of risks and benefits have changed to include concerns of COVID-19 during routine office visits, procedures, and hospital admissions. This affects patients desire to seek medical care and may explain the dramatic drop in acute hospitalizations and outpatient referrals. Neurologists also face challenges in providing ongoing care for persons with chronic illness, responding to novel clinical situations and hosting an increasing number of difficult conversations, often via telehealth.6

Research advances in recent years have shown that some individuals with vegetative state or minimally consciousness state can emerge to higher states of consciousness even years after injury. A minority of behaviorally unresponsive patients with vegetative state have also been shown to follow commands, or even communicate, using neuroimaging or electrophysiological techniques. These advances raise ethical questions that have important implications for clinical care. In this article, the authors argue that adopting a neuropalliative care approach can help clinicians provide ethical, compassionate care to these patients and their caregivers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The distinct illness trajectory after acute ischemic stroke demands a better understanding of the utilization of palliative care consultations (PCC) for this patient cohort. This study sought to determine the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes associated with PCC for patients hospitalized with severe ischemic stroke. METHODS: This multicenter cohort study was conducted at four hospitals (2 comprehensive and 2 primary stroke centers) between 01/2016 and 12/2019. We included all patients with a discharge diagnosis of ischemic stroke and an initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) of 10 or greater. We compared patient sociodemographic, clinical and care characteristics as well as hospital outcomes between patients who did and did not receive PCC. RESULTS: The study included 1297 patients hospitalized with severe ischemic stroke. PCC occurred for 20% of all patients and this proportion varied across institutions from 11.9% to 43%. Less than half (43%) of patients who died in the hospital. In multivaraible analysis, PCC was less likely in female patients (OR .76, 95% CI .59, .99, p=.04) but more likely in patients with higher NIHSS (OR1.95, 95% CI 1,13, 3.37, p=.02). Patients with PCC had higher rates of moving to a plan focused on comfort measures (CMO) (p

Stroke is a common cause of long-term disability and death, which leaves many patients with significant and unique palliative care (PC) needs. Shared decision-making for patients with stroke poses distinct challenges due to the sudden nature of stroke, the uncertainty inherent in prognostication around recovery, and the common necessity of relying on surrogates for decision-making. Patients with stroke suffer from frequently underrecognized symptoms, which PC clinicians should feel comfortable identifying and treating. This article provides 10 tips for palliative clinicians to increase their knowledge and comfort in caring for this important population.

Key Points Question For patients with severe acute brain injury, how prevalent is prognosis discordance between physicians and families, and what factors are associated with it? Findings In this cross-sectional study of 193 patients with severe acute brain injury, prognosis discordance occurred for 61% of patients, with both misunderstanding and belief differences present; prognosis discordance was more likely for family members who were part of minoritized racial groups. Nurses seemed to accurately predict poor family understanding, whereas physicians perceived belief differences as poor family understanding. Meaning The results of this cross-sectional study suggest that prognosis discordance, which may hamper the shared decision-making process, is common between families and physicians for patients with severe acute brain injury., This cross-sectional study uses data from a single neuroscience center to assess for the presence of discordance between physicians and family members regarding prognosis in patients with severe acute brain injury., Importance Shared decision-making requires key stakeholders to align in perceptions of prognosis and likely treatment outcomes. Objective For patients with severe acute brain injury, the objective of this study was to better understand prognosis discordance between physicians and families by determining prevalence and associated factors. Design, Setting, and Participants This mixed-methods cross-sectional study analyzed a cohort collected from January 4, 2018, to July 22, 2020. This study was conducted in the medical and cardiac intensive care units of a single neuroscience center. Participants included families, physicians, and nurses of patients admitted with severe acute brain injury. Exposures Severe acute brain injury was defined as stroke, traumatic brain injury, or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy with a Glasgow Coma Scale score less than or equal to 12 points after hospital day 2. Main Outcomes and Measures Prognosis discordance was defined as a 20% or greater difference between family and physician prognosis predictions; misunderstanding was defined as a 20% or greater difference between physician prediction and the family’s estimate of physician prediction; and optimistic belief difference was defined as any difference (>0%) between family prediction and their estimate of physician prediction. Logistic regression was used to identify associations with discordance. Optimistic belief differences were analyzed as a subgroup of prognosis discordance. Results Among 222 enrolled patients, prognostic predictions were available for 193 patients (mean [SD] age, 57 [19] years; 106 men [55%]). Prognosis discordance occurred for 118 patients (61%) and was significantly more common among families who identified with minoritized racial groups compared with White families (odds ratio [OR], 3.14; CI, 1.40-7.07, P = .006); among siblings (OR, 4.93; 95% CI, 1.35-17.93, P = .02) and adult children (OR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.10-5.37; P = .03) compared with spouses; and when nurses perceived family understanding as poor compared with good (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.88-7.40; P

Brazil has been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, placing a high burden on ICUs.Are perceptions of ICU resource availability associated with end-of-life decisions and burnout among health care providers (HCPs) during COVID-19 surges in Brazil?We electronically administered a survey to multidisciplinary ICU HCPs during two 2-week periods (in June 2020 and March 2021) coinciding with COVID-19 surges. We examined responses across geographical regions and performed multivariate regressions to explore factors associated with reports of: (1) families being allowed less input in decisions about maintaining life-sustaining treatments for patients with COVID-19 and (2) emotional distress and burnout.We included 1,985 respondents (57% physicians, 14% nurses, 12% respiratory therapists, 16% other HCPs). More respondents reported shortages during the second surge compared with the first (P .05 for all comparisons), including lower availability of intensivists (66% vs 42%), ICU nurses (53% vs 36%), ICU beds (68% vs 22%), and ventilators for patients with COVID-19 (80% vs 70%); shortages were highest in the North. One-quarter of HCPs reported that families were allowed less input in decisions about maintaining life-sustaining treatments for patients with COVID-19, which was associated with lack of intensivists (adjusted relative risk [aRR], 1.37; 95% CI, 1.05-1.80) and ICU beds (aRR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.16-2.62) during the first surge and lack of N95 masks (aRR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10-1.85), noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (aRR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.18-2.07), and oxygen concentrators (aRR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.13-2.00) during the second surge. Burnout was higher during the second surge (60% vs 71%; P .001), associated with witnessing colleagues at one's hospital contract COVID-19 during both surges (aRR, 1.55 [95% CI, 1.25-1.93] and 1.31 [95% CI, 1.11-1.55], respectively), as well as worries about finances (aRR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.02-1.61) and lack of ICU nurses (aRR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.02-1.53) during the first surge.During the COVID-19 pandemic, ICU HCPs in Brazil experienced substantial resource shortages, health care disparities between regions, changes in end-of-life care associated with resource shortages, and high proportions of burnout.

Effective shared decision-making relies on some degree of alignment between families and the medical team regarding a patient's likelihood of recovery. Patients with severe acute brain injury (SABI) are often unable to participate in decisions, and therefore family members make decisions on their behalf. The goal of this study was to evaluate agreement between prognostic predictions by families, physicians, and nurses of patients with SABI regarding their likelihood of regaining independence and to measure each group's prediction accuracy.This observational cohort study, conducted from 01/2018 to 07/2020, was based in the neuroscience and medical/cardiac intensive care units of a single center. Patient eligibility included a diagnosis of SABI-specifically stroke, traumatic brain injury, or hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy-and a Glasgow Coma Scale ≤ 12 after hospital day 2. At enrollment, families, physicians, and nurses were asked separately to predict a patient's likelihood of recovering to independence within 6 months on a 0-100 scale, regardless of whether a formal family meeting had occurred. True outcome was based on modified Rankin Scale assessment through a family report or medical chart review. Prognostic agreement was measured by (1) intraclass correlation coefficient; (2) mean group prediction comparisons using paired Student's t-tests; and (3) prevalence of concordance, defined as an absolute difference of less than 20 percentage points between predictions. Accuracy for each group was measured by calculating the area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (C statistic) and compared by using DeLong's test.Data were collected from 222 patients and families, 45 physicians, and 103 nurses. Complete data on agreement and accuracy were available for 187 and 177 patients, respectively. The intraclass correlation coefficient, in which 1 indicates perfect correlation and 0 indicates no correlation, was 0.49 for physician-family pairs, 0.40 for family-nurse pairs, and 0.66 for physician-nurse pairs. The difference in mean predictions between families and physicians was 23.5 percentage points (p 0.001), 25.4 between families and nurses (p 0.001), and 1.9 between physicians and nurses (p = 0.38). Prevalence of concordance was 39.6% for family-physician pairs, 30.0% for family-nurse pairs, and 56.2% for physician-nurse pairs. The C statistic for prediction accuracy was 0.65 for families, 0.82 for physicians, and 0.76 for nurses. The p values for differences in C statistics were 0.05 for family-physician and family-nurse groups and 0.18 for physician-nurse groups.For patients with SABI, agreement in predictions between families, physicians, and nurses regarding likelihood of recovery is poor. Accuracy appears higher for physicians and nurses compared with families, with no significant difference between physicians and nurses.

Background and ObjectivesNeuropalliative care is an emerging interprofessional field that aims to improve communication and quality of life for all people affected by serious neurologic disease. Teaching neuropalliative care skills is a key objective for neurology residencies, and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education requires proficiency in palliative care. The objective of this study was to describe a novel longitudinal multimodal curriculum in neuropalliative care communication and evaluate its feasibility and outcomes.Methods and Curriculum DescriptionWe designed a multimodal curriculum focused on neuropalliative care communication skills using as our theoretical foundation transformative learning theory. We implemented this program for neurology residents at a single academic institution over the course of their 3-year training. Residents underwent (1) 3 communication workshops using VitalTalk modules and simulated patient encounters, (2) 3 or more observed clinical encounters with structured faculty feedback, and (3) at least 3 annual neuropalliative care lectures. We evaluated the effect on learners' self-assessed confidence in neuropalliative care skills with preworkshop and postworkshop questionnaires.Results and Assessment DataIn 2021, 14 of 20 eligible residents attended our workshops and completed the preworkshop questionnaire, and 12 of those completed the postworkshop questionnaire. After the workshop, a larger proportion of residents (75%, 9/12) agreed or strongly agreed that they felt confident leading family meetings compared with before the workshop (57%, 8/14). While more than 90% of residents felt confident recognizing patient and family emotions both before and after the workshop, the workshop improved their confidence in responding to such emotions. Still, some residents neither agreed nor disagreed (42%, 5/12) about feeling confident in responding to emotions after the workshop, and many commented on wanting more training in this area.Discussion and Lessons LearnedThe successful implementation and high attendance among eligible participants demonstrate the feasibility of our longitudinal multimodal neuropalliative care curriculum. The evaluation of intervention outcomes suggests that residents' confidence in neuropalliative communication skills improved. Our study shows that VitalTalk is a tool that can be adapted to teach neuropalliative communication skills for neurology residents, and this program can be easily adopted by other neurology training programs.

Objectives Management of left ventricular assist device (LVAD)-associated intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) is complicated by the competing concerns of hematoma expansion and the risk of thrombosis. Strategies include reversal or withholding of anticoagulation (AC) and neurosurgical (NSG) interventions. The consequences of these decisions can significantly impact both short- and long-term survival. Currently no guidelines exist. We reviewed medical and NSG practices following LVAD-associated ICH and analyzed outcomes. Materials and methods Retrospective analysis of data collected between 2012–2018 was performed. Survival probability following ICH was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results Out of 283 patients, 32 (11%) had 34 ICHs: 16 intraparenchymal (IPH, 47%), 4 subdural (SDH, 12%), and 14 subarachnoid (SAH, 41%). IPH tended to occur sooner (median 138 [IQR 48 – 258] days post-LVAD placement) and be more neurologically devastating (mean GCS 11.4 [4.4]). Antithrombotics were reversed in 27 (79%); 1 thrombotic event occurred while off AC. Following resumption, re-hemorrhage occurred in 7 (25%), a median of 13 days (IQR 8-30) post-ICH. Five underwent NSG intervention and 6 (18%) went on to receive heart transplant. Overall, 30-day mortality was 26% (38% in IPH, 0% in SDH, and 29% in SAH), but rose to 44% at 6 months. Conclusion ICH is a common post-LVAD complication with high short- and long-term mortality, though ICH subtypes may not be equally devastating. Despite this, some may benefit from neurosurgical intervention and do well following cardiac transplant. Anticoagulation is frequently reversed after ICH. Resumption however should be approached cautiously in patients with LVADs given their possible baseline coagulopathy.

Background: Advance care planning (ACP) is recommended to align treatment with patient goals, although there has been little study of the impact of ACP on in-hospital stroke treatment. Objective: To examine the association between ACP and transitions to comfort measures after stroke. Design: Prospective cohort study. Setting/Subjects: Hospitalized stroke patients 45 years and older and surrogate decision makers from a population-based study in Corpus Christi, TX. Measurements: Surrogates were interviewed to assess presence of patient prestroke ACP, categorized as none, informal conversations only, or formal documentation. Patient records were reviewed for time from admission to transition to comfort measures only (CMO) (defined as in-hospital comfort measures or discharge with hospice services). Cox proportional-hazards models assessed the relationship between ACP and time to transition to CMO. Results: Of 148 included stroke patients, 37% transitioned to CMO (median time five days). For ACP, 44% had only informal conversations, 38% had formal documentation (98% of which also reported informal conversations), and 18% had neither. After adjustment for age, severity, and baseline disability, informal conversations alone (hazard ratio [HR] 3.55; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.35-9.33) and formal documentation (HR 2.85; 95% CI: 1.05-7.72) were associated with earlier transition to comfort measures compared to no ACP. There was no difference between formal documentation and informal conversations on time to comfort measures (HR 0.80, 95% CI: 0.40-1.63). Conclusions: There was no additional association of formal ACP documentation over informal conversations on time to transition to comfort measures after stroke. Further study of formal ACP is warranted.

Před padesati lety bylo založeno hospicove hnuti, ktere doslova revolucionizovalo peci na konci života svým působenim na tiži symptomů, důrazem na kvalitu života komplexni peci o umirajici pacienty. Paliativni pece je v modernim pojeti svebytným přistupem, který z hospicoveho hnuti vychazi, avsak přesahuje fazi bezprostředniho umirani, je indikovan v kteremkoliv věku nebo stadiu nemoci, nezavisle na prognoze a zaměřuje se na zlepseni komunikace o cilech lecby a maximalni zlepseni komfortu a kvality života. U neurologických onemocněni se jedna o doprovazeni po celou dobu zavažneho onemocněni: paliativni pece může trvat roky, někdy až desetileti, pomaha zvladat postupně se zvysujici symptomovou zatěž, progresivni ztratu soběstacnosti, proměňujici se socialni roli i osobnostni proměnu a prognostickou nejistotu.

Strokes remain a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with ventricular assist devices (VADs). Varying study populations, event definitions, and reporting methods make direct comparison of neurologic event risk across clinical trials and registries challenging. We aim to highlight important differences among major VAD studies and standardize rates of neurologic events to facilitate a comprehensive and objective comparison. We systematically identified and analyzed key clinical trials and registries evaluating the HeartMate II (HMII), HeartMate 3 (HM3), and HVAD devices. Reported neurologic events were nonexclusively categorized into ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, disabling stroke, fatal stroke, and other neurologic events per the studies' definitions. Event rates were standardized to events per patient-year (EPPY) and freedom from event formats. Seven key clinical trials and registries were included in our analysis. There is significant variation and overlap in neurologic event rates for the three VAD platforms across clinical trials (all neurologic events [EPPY]: HM3 0.17-0.21; HMII 0.19-0.26; HVAD 0.16-0.28). None performs consistently better for all types of neurologic events. Furthermore, stroke rates among VAD trials correlated with baseline stroke risk factors including ischemic etiology, history of atrial fibrillation, and history of prior stroke.

The proportion of hospitals with specialist palliative care services in the USA has increased substantially over the past decade. Severe acute brain injury presents with unique challenges, especially regarding quality of life. The growth and increased recognition of neurocritical care as a subspecialty has not been paralleled by studies regarding how best to integrate palliative care for this unique patient population. Thus, we surveyed members of the Neurocritical Care Society (NCS) to explore current practice patterns, perceptions, and preferences regarding integration of palliative care in the neurological intensive care unit (Neuro-ICU). We created a 19-item survey using SurveyMonkey to assess practice patterns, perceptions, and preferences of neurointensivists regarding integration of palliative care in the Neuro-ICU. The survey, approved by the NCS research committee, was distributed to all active members of the NCS. A total of 424 NCS members representing 19% of the 2200 list serve members completed the survey. The majority (58%) of respondents were attending physicians, who worked primarily in a dedicated Neuro-ICU (67%), at university affiliated academic medical centers (65%). Palliative care consultations are utilized infrequently (

Background: The development of palliative care in Peru remains limited, particularly for nononcological services, such as neurology. The goal of this study was to explore attitudes toward and knowledge about palliative and end-of-life care among patients, families, nurses, and doctors in a specialized neurological institute in Lima, Peru. Materials and Methods: We used a mixed methods approach consisting of 78 surveys and 21 qualitative, semistructured interviews that were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: Surveys identified a substantial need for palliative care in the neurological institute (63% of doctors and 77% of nurses reported palliative care needs in >30% of their patients), and for training (82% of doctors and 69% of nurses reported inadequate palliative care education). The key themes emerging from qualitative interviews concerned transparency of communication about prognosis and end-of-life choices in neurological disease. Familiarity with advance directives was limited among both clinicians and families, and participants were divided about whether or not patients should be informed of serious diagnoses and prognoses, and who should inform them. Barriers to transparency in patient–physician communication included (1) expectation of cure; (2) physician's lack of training in communication and end-of-life care; (3) a paternalistic culture; and (4) the nature of neurological diseases. Conclusions: Our study highlights opportunities to enhance palliative care and communication education for neurology providers and the public in Peru, a country that currently has no palliative care training program and no legal basis for advance directives.

Background Tracheostomy represents one important and value-laden treatment decision after severe acute brain injury (SABI). Whether to pursue this life-sustaining treatment typically hinges on intense conversations between family and clinicians. The aim of this study was, among a cohort of patient who had undergone tracheostomy after SABI, to explore the long-term reflections of patients and their families as they look back on this decision. Methods For this qualitative study, we reviewed the electronic medical records of patients with SABI who underwent tracheostomy. We included all patients who were admitted to our 30-bed neuro-intensive care unit with SABI and underwent tracheostomy between November 2017 and October 2019. Using purposive sampling, we invited survivors and family members to participate in telephone interviews greater than 3 months after SABI until thematic saturation was reached. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed by using thematic analysis. Results Overall, 38 patients with SABI in the neuro-intensive care unit underwent tracheostomy. The mean age of patients was 49 (range 18–81), with 19 of 38 patients diagnosed with traumatic brain injury and 19 of 38 with stroke. We interviewed 20 family members of 18 of 38 patients at a mean of 16 (SD 9) months after hospitalization. The mean patient age among those with an interview was 50 (range 18–76); the mean modified Rankin Scale score (mRS) was 4.7 (SD 0.8) at hospital discharge. At the time of the interview, ten patients lived at home and two in a skilled nursing facility and had a mean mRS of 2.6 (SD 0.9), and six had died. As families reflected on the decision to proceed with a tracheostomy, two themes emerged. First, families did not remember tracheostomy as a choice because the uncertain chance of recovery rendered the certain alternative of death unacceptable or because they valued survival above all and therefore could not perceive an alternative to life-sustaining treatment. Second, families identified a fundamental need to receive supportive, consistent communication centering around compassion, clarity, and hope. When this need was met, families were able to reflect on the tracheostomy decision with peace, regardless of their loved one’s eventual outcome. Conclusions After SABI, prognostic uncertainty almost transcends the concept of choice. Families who proceeded with a tracheostomy saw it as the only option at the time. High-quality communication may mitigate the stress surrounding this high-stakes decision. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12028-021-01335-9.

Objectives: The global COVID-19 pandemic made strict visitation policies necessary. We explored the experiences of family members of patients with severe acute brain injury focusing on the impact of family presence in the hospital. Methods: Semistructured interviews (February 2018-April 2020) were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Results: We interviewed family members of 19 patients with stroke, traumatic brain injury, or cardiac arrest; five interviews occurred after initiation of restrictive visitation policies. Four key themes highlight the role of visitation on family's ability to (1) cope by being at the bedside, (2) protect and advocate for the patient, (3) build trust with clinicians, and (4) receive emotional support in the intensive care unit. After visitation restrictions, families found ways to communicate and support virtually and wished for proactive communication from clinicians. Conclusions: Family presence at patient's bedside fulfills important needs. Visitation restrictions require hospitals to be creative and inclusive to help maintain these connections.

Arm recovery varies greatly among stroke survivors. Wearable surface electromyography (sEMG) sensors have been used to track recovery in research; however, sEMG is rarely used within acute and subacute clinical settings. The purpose of this case study was to describe the use of wireless sEMG sensors to examine changes in muscle activity during acute and subacute phases of stroke recovery, and understand the participant’s perceptions of sEMG monitoring. Beginning three days post-stroke, one stroke survivor wore five wireless sEMG sensors on his involved arm for three to four hours, every one to three days. Muscle activity was tracked during routine care in the acute setting through discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Three- and eight-month follow-up sessions were completed in the community. Activity logs were completed each session, and a semi-structured interview occurred at the final session. The longitudinal monitoring of muscle and movement recovery in the clinic and community was feasible using sEMG sensors. The participant and medical team felt monitoring was unobtrusive, interesting, and motivating for recovery, but desired greater in-session feedback to inform rehabilitation. While barriers in equipment and signal quality still exist, capitalizing on wearable sensing technology in the clinic holds promise for enabling personalized stroke recovery.

Despite increasing awareness of the importance of a palliative care approach to meet the needs of persons living with neurologic illness, residency and fellowship programs report meeting this educational need due to a limited pool of neuropalliative care educators and a lack of adequate educational resources. To meet this need, a group of experts in neuropalliative care and palliative medicine leveraged resources from the Education in Palliative and End-of-life Care (EPEC) program and the National Institutes of Nursing Research to create a library of modules addressing topics relevant for neurology trainees, palliative medicine fellows, and clinicians in practice. In this article, we describe the development and dissemination plan of the EPEC Neurology program, initial evidence of efficacy, and opportunities for neurology educators and health services researchers to use these resources.

Objectives Treatment decisions following severe acute brain injury need to consider patients' goals-of-care and long-term outcomes. Using family members as respondents, we aimed to assess patients' goals-of-care in the ICU and explore the impact of adaptation on survivors who did not reach the level of recovery initially considered acceptable. Design Prospective, observational, mixed-methods cohort study. Setting Comprehensive stroke and level 1 trauma center in Pacific Northwest United States. Participants Family members of patients with severe acute brain injury in an ICU for greater than 2 days and Glasgow Coma Scale score less than 12. Measurements and main results At enrollment, we asked what level of physical and cognitive recovery the patient would find acceptable. At 6 months, we assessed level of recovery through family surveys and chart review. Families of patients whose outcome was below that considered acceptable were invited for semistructured interviews, examined with content analysis. Results For 184 patients, most family members set patients' minimally acceptable cognitive recovery at "able to think and communicate" or better (82%) and physical recovery at independence or better (66%). Among 170 patients with known 6-month outcome, 40% had died in hospital. Of 102 survivors, 33% were able to think and communicate, 13% were independent, and 10% died after discharge. Among survivors whose family member had set minimally acceptable cognitive function at "able to think and communicate," 64% survived below that level; for those with minimally acceptable physical function at independence, 80% survived below that. Qualitative analysis revealed two key themes: families struggled to adapt to a new, yet uncertain, normal and asked for support and guidance with ongoing treatment decisions. Conclusions and relevance Six months after severe acute brain injury, most patients survived to a state their families initially thought would not be acceptable. Survivors and their families need more support and guidance as they adapt to a new normal and struggle with persistent uncertainty.

Background: Management of intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in patients with left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) is complicated by the competing concerns of hematoma expansion and the risk of thrombotic events. Strategies include reversal or withholding of anticoagulation (AC) and neurosurgical (NSG) interventions. The consequences of these decisions can significantly impact both short- and long-term survival. Currently no guidelines on management exist. We reviewed medical and NSG practices and subsequent outcomes at a single academic center. Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients within our institutional LVAD database who developed ICH between 2012-2018. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were analyzed. Results: Of 283 LVAD patients, 32 (11%) had 34 ICHs: 16 intraparenchymal (IPH, 47%), 4 subdural (SDH, 12%), and 14 subarachnoid (SAH, 41%). IPH occurred sooner than other subtypes (median 138 [48 - 258]) days post-LVAD placement vs SDH (431 [22 - 915] days) and SAH (484 [272 - 990] days). Mean GCS was 12.9 (3.7). All patients were on AC with a mean INR of 3.3 (range 1.2 - 7.0). AC was reversed in 27 (79%) patients, most frequently with a combination of Vit K (56%), FFP (47%), or PCC (26%). AC was held in 31 patients a median of 4 (2.0 - 9.0) days; 1 thrombotic event occurred while off AC (spinal cord infarct). After AC resumption, 16 thrombotic events occurred a median of 15 (8.0-37.0) days post-ICH and led to death in most (79%) by 6 months. Five patients underwent NSG intervention: 1 hemicraniectomy, 3 EVDs, and 1 aneurysm coiling. Six patients (18%) went on to receive heart transplant. Overall, 30-day mortality was 26%. IPH had the highest 30-day mortality (38% vs SDH, 0% and SAH, 29%). At 6 months, overall mortality was 44%. Conclusion: ICH is a common post-LVAD complication with high short- and long-term mortality. Of the subtypes, IPH was the most common, most deadly and occurred the earliest following LVAD placement. At our institution, most patients underwent AC reversal but AC was also resumed rapidly. Delayed thrombotic complications nearly doubled 6-month mortality. The development of ICH did not preclude successful heart transplant. Further research in the care of LVAD patients with ICH may help improve these short- and long-term outcomes.

Background: Intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) has a high mortality rate (up to 40% in some studies) with most deaths occurring after limitation of life-sustaining therapies. ICH is a feared complication of left ventricular assist device (LVADs) and challenges end-of-life decisions for patients, families, and health-care teams. Palliative care (PC) is considered essential for the management of patients who receive an LVAD, yet little is known about the end-of-life course of patients with LVAD-associated ICH. The goal of this single center study was to better understand the impact of PC involvement in post-ICH care in LVAD patients. Methods: We retrospectively identified all patients within our institutional LVAD database who experienced ICH between 2012 - 2018. Demographic, clinical, and outcome data were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results: Of the 283 patients who underwent LVAD placement, 32 (11%) experienced 34 ICHs: 16 intraparenchymal (IPH, 47%), 4 subdural (SDH, 12%), and 14 subarachnoid (SAH, 41%), a median of 258 (110-526) days post-LVAD. PC was consulted in 23 (68%) cases (69% of IPHs, 75% of SDHs, and 64% of SAHs). The patients who received PC were younger (50.5 [16.5] vs 54.9 [17.1] years) and more neurologically impaired (mean GCS 12.8 [3.6] vs 13.2 [4.0]). Women were referred more frequently than men (80% vs 63%) and White patients more frequently than non-White (74% vs 63%). All patients were full code at the time of their ICH; following PC consult, code status was changed to DNR in 48%. Ten patients (29%) died during their hospitalization. Though most patients in the cohort were referred for PC, only one died on home hospice; the remaining patients died in the hospital setting, 7 (70%) in the intensive care unit (ICU). Conclusions: In this single-center study, the vast majority of LVAD patients who died from their ICH died in the hospital setting, and most in the ICU, despite high numbers of PC consultation. As prior studies have associated in-hospital death with worse end-of-life-care and more physical and emotional distress for terminal patients, the use of hospice services has been increasing in the stroke population. Further work is needed to provide better end-of-life options for LVAD patients following serious neurologic injuries.

Background: Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is now standard of care for patients with acute large vessel occlusion (LVO) ischemic stroke, after several trials showed significant functional improvement at 90 days. Despite this expected duration for recovery, withdrawal of life sustaining treatment (WLST) often occurs within less than 5 days after MT. We aimed to identify determinants of early WLST and better understand decisions that led to it. Methods: Retrospective chart review at a single academic stroke center from 1/2015 to 8/2020 using mixed methods. We compared patient characteristics and hospital course in those with early WLST (within 5 days) to those without WLST. Six authors conducted in-depth qualitative analysis of family meeting notes among a subgroup of 16 purposively sampled early WLST patients. Results: Among 402 patients (mean age 68.0, SD 14.7 years; 53.7% male) who underwent MT, 88 (21.9%) had WLST, of which 52 (12.9%) were early WLST (mean 2.2, SD 1.3 days). Logistic regression adjusted for sex, race, LVO location, time of MT from last known normal, and post-procedural hemorrhage showed early WLST compared to no WLST was significantly associated with older age, inpatient stroke, increased stroke severity, unsuccessful MT, no tPA given, post-procedural need for craniectomy, and palliative care consultation (p Conclusion: Early WLST after MT occurs frequently in patients with severe stroke and high medical complexity, especially if progression to cerebral herniation. Clear communication before and after MT regarding expected prognosis and trajectory of recovery could allow for improved decision making and prevent potentially premature WLST by providers or families. Prior knowledge of patient’s goals-of-care may also reduce patient or caregiver suffering and improve resource utilization for the healthcare system in patients with severe stroke.

Background The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has severely affected ICUs and critical care health-care providers (HCPs) worldwide. Research Question How do regional differences and perceived lack of ICU resources affect critical care resource use and the well-being of HCPs? Study Design and Methods Between April 23 and May 7, 2020, we electronically administered a 41-question survey to interdisciplinary HCPs caring for patients critically ill with COVID-19. The survey was distributed via critical care societies, research networks, personal contacts, and social media portals. Responses were tabulated according to World Bank region. We performed multivariate log-binomial regression to assess factors associated with three main outcomes: limiting mechanical ventilation (MV), changes in CPR practices, and emotional distress and burnout. Results We included 2,700 respondents from 77 countries, including physicians (41%), nurses (40%), respiratory therapists (11%), and advanced practice providers (8%). The reported lack of ICU nurses was higher than that of intensivists (32% vs 15%). Limiting MV for patients with COVID-19 was reported by 16% of respondents, was lowest in North America (10%), and was associated with reduced ventilator availability (absolute risk reduction [ARR], 2.10; 95% CI, 1.61-2.74). Overall, 66% of respondents reported changes in CPR practices. Emotional distress or burnout was high across regions (52%, highest in North America) and associated with being female (mechanical ventilation, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.33), being a nurse (ARR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.13-1.53), reporting a shortage of ICU nurses (ARR, 1.18; 95% CI, 1.05-1.33), reporting a shortage of powered air-purifying respirators (ARR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09-1.55), and experiencing poor communication from supervisors (ARR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.16-1.46). Interpretation Our findings demonstrate variability in ICU resource availability and use worldwide. The high prevalence of provider burnout and its association with reported insufficient resources and poor communication from supervisors suggest a need for targeted interventions to support HCPs on the front lines.