Anales españoles de pediatría
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Backgrounds Some patients with a poor prognosis cause serious doubts about the real benefit of life-sustaining treatment. In some cases the possibility of limiting those treatments is raised. Such end-of-life decisions provoke ethical dilemmas and questions about procedure. ⋯ ConclusionsThe present study, the first of this type performed in Spain, reveals little-known aspects about the clinical practice of withholding and/or withdrawing life-sustaining treatment in critically ill neonates. End-of-life decisions were frequent (52 %) and were followed by death in most of the patients (98,8 %). The main criteria in decision-making were poor vital prognosis and the patient's current and future quality of life.
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Introduction Termination of artificial life-support in critically-ill patients without chance of recovery or with severe damage is frequent in the intensive care unit (UCI). Patients and methodsWe studied the present situation concerning the withdrawal of life support in Spain using data collected over 10 years in referral hospitals with pediatric ICUs. Forty-nine patients were included, of which 43 had chronic diseases. ⋯ Sedation and suitable pain management were widely used in terminal care. After the decision to limit life-support was made, six patients were discharged from the pediatric ICU. ConclusionsAlthough each case should be treated individually, because of the wide variation found in the limitation of life-support, we suggest the need for common guidelines that could help the decision-making process.