Der Anaesthesist
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Review Meta Analysis
[Integration of palliative care into intensive care : Systematic review].
One of the prime aims of intensive care is to cure patients or at least to extend life duration, sometimes to the extent of losing quality of life. Palliative care aims to improve the quality of life of patients with life-limiting conditions; however, some patients need both intensive and palliative care. About 5-10% of all deaths in Germany and 20% of all deaths in the USA occur in an intensive care unit (ICU) and many of those as well as other patients may benefit from palliative care consultation. Palliative care consultations are increasingly available for intensive care patients but are still infrequently used. ⋯ Trigger factors can reduce barriers which hold back the integration of palliative care in ICUs. Early integration of palliative care can improve quality of care by offering psychological support to patients and their families and by providing collegial consultation. An ongoing prospective study is investigating the acceptance of trigger factors in the daily routine among ICU physicians in Germany.