End-of-Life Planning in Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support

Katie P Truong; James N Kirkpatrick

doi:10.1016/j.ccc.2023.05.005

End-of-Life Planning in Patients with Mechanical Circulatory Support

Crit Care Clin. 2024 Jan;40(1):211-219. doi: 10.1016/j.ccc.2023.05.005. Epub 2023 Jul 7.

Authors

Katie P Truong¹, James N Kirkpatrick²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street Box 356422, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
² Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street Box 356422, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Bioethics and Humanities, University of Washington, 1959 Northeast Pacific Street Box 356422, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 37973355
DOI: 10.1016/j.ccc.2023.05.005

Abstract

There are a growing number of patients with mechanical circulatory support (MCS) in the setting of bridge to transplant and destination therapy and temporary support. Preparedness planning is an important aspect of care that involves device-specific Goals of Care and Advance Care Planning and should ideally be used in MCS candidates before initiation of therapy and revisited periodically. The withdrawal of both temporary and durable MCS can be complex and controversial.

Keywords: Critical care; End-of-life; Ethics; Mechanical circulatory support.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Death
Heart Failure* / therapy
Heart Transplantation*
Heart-Assist Devices*
Humans