Care of geriatric patients with advanced illnesses and end-of-life needs in the emergency department

• Autores: Daniel Bell, Margaret Brungraber Ruttenberg, Emily Chai
• Localización: Clinics in geriatric medicine, ISSN 0749-0690, Vol. 34, Nº. 3, 2018, págs. 453-467
• Idioma: inglés
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• Resumen

  • Older patients with advanced illnesses are presenting more frequently to emergency departments (EDs). These patients have complex needs that challenge busy EDs tuned to provide emergent, life-sustaining interventions and rapid dispositions. Matching the appropriate level of medical intervention to a patient’s goals of care requires specialized communication skills. Providing comfort at the end of life requires the ability to manage the following situations in the acutely dying patient: acute pain, dyspnea, terminal delirium, secretions, dry mouth, fever, and family bereavement.