Palliative Care and Population Management Compassionate Extubation of the ICU Patient and the Use of the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale

Karin Cooney-Newton; Erin C Hare

doi:10.1016/j.cnc.2021.11.004

Palliative Care and Population Management Compassionate Extubation of the ICU Patient and the Use of the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale

Crit Care Nurs Clin North Am. 2022 Mar;34(1):67-78. doi: 10.1016/j.cnc.2021.11.004. Epub 2022 Jan 21.

Authors

Karin Cooney-Newton¹, Erin C Hare²

Affiliations

¹ Bayhealth Medical Center, 640 S State Street, Mail code: 1207, Dover, DE 19901, USA. Electronic address: Karin_cooney-newton@bayhealth.org.
² MICU, ChristianaCare Hospital, 4755 Ogletown-Stanton Road, Newark, DE 19718, USA.

PMID: 35210026
DOI: 10.1016/j.cnc.2021.11.004

Abstract

End of life (EOL) can be an extremely stressful experience for patients, their families, and health care staff. Critical care nurses are trained to help patients survive acute episodes and assist in restoring their health. Unfortunately, not all ICU patients are able to fully recover or obtain previous quality of life before hospitalization. In these situations, the focus moves to transitioning patients from restorative care to palliative care. This article will explain EOL care guidelines for critical care nurses using the Respiratory Distress Observation Scale to ensure patient comfort during compassionate extubation.

Keywords: Compassionate extubation; End-of-Life; RDOS; Respiratory distress observation scale; Terminal ventilator wean; Ventilator withdrawal.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Airway Extubation
Humans
Intensive Care Units
Palliative Care
Quality of Life
Respiratory Distress Syndrome*
Terminal Care*