Policies of withholding and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment in critically ill patients on cardiac intensive care units in Germany: a national survey

OBJECTIVE: To determine the decision-making process of withholding and/or withdrawal (WH/WD) of life-sustaining treatment in cardiac intensive care units (ICUs) in Germany. METHODS: A questionnaire regarding 16 medical and 6 ethical questions of WH/WD of life-sustaining treatment was distributed to the clinical director, senior ICU physician and head nurses of all German heart surgery centres (n= 237 questionnaires). Furthermore, we present a literature survey using the key words ‘End-of-life care AND withholding/withdrawal of life support therapy AND intensive care unit’. RESULTS: We received replies from 86 of 237 (36.3%) contacted persons. Concerning medical reasons, cranial computed tomography (CCT) with poor prognosis (91.9%), multi-organ failure (70.9%) and failure of assist device therapy (69.8%) were the three most frequently cited medical reasons for WH/WD life-sustaining treatment. Overall, 32.6% of persons answered that ethical aspects influence their decision-making processes. Poor expected quality of life (48.8%), the patient’s willingness to limit medical care (40.7%) and the families’ choice (27.9%) were the top three reported ethical reasons. There was a significant difference regarding the perception of the three involved professional groups concerning the decision-making parameters: multi-organ failure (P= 0.018), failure of assist device therapy (P= 0.001), cardiac index (P= 0.009), poor expected quality of life (P= 0.009), the patient’s willingness to limit medical care (P= 0.002), intraoperative course (P= 0.054), opinion of family members (P= 0.032) and whether decision-making process are done collaboratively (clinical director, 45.7%; ICU physician, 52%; and head of nursing staff, 26.9%). Palliation medication in patients after WH/WD of lifesupport consisted of morphine (92%) and benzodiazepines (88%). CONCLUSIONS: This survey is a step towards creating standards of end-of-life care in cardiac ICUs, which may contribute to build consensus and avoid conflicts among caregivers, patients and families at each step of the decision-making process.