Chapter 15 – Shared Decision-Making in Emergent Situations
Abstract Ms. Patterson is a 68-year-old woman with a history of hypertension who was at home when she developed a sudden-onset severe headache with vomiting. She called 911 but was…
Chapter 14 – Potentially Inappropriate Treatment and Conscientious Objection
Abstract The moral ends of medicine established thousands of years ago through the work of historical figures like Imhotep and Hippocrates taught us what it means to be a healer…
Chapter 6 – The Do-Not-Intubate Order
Abstract Mrs. Williams is an 82-year-old woman with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), hypertension, and diastolic heart failure who is admitted to the medical intensive care unit (ICU) with…
Chapter 5 – The Do-Not-Resuscitate Order
Abstract An 81-year-old woman with a history of non-alcoholic cirrhosis, refractory ascites, and previous variceal bleeding was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with septic shock from spontaneous bacterial…
Chapter 3 – Show Me the Data
Abstract Shared decision-making involves using the best scientific evidence available to make a choice together with the patient or their surrogate, while weighing the options against the patient’s values, preferences,…
Chapter 4 – Communication Skills for Critical Care Family Meetings
Abstract Excellent communication is a foundation of shared decision making. As discussed throughout this book, shared decision-making is a collaborative process of (1) exchanging medical and personal information about patients’…
Chapter 7 – Prolonged Ventilator Dependence for the Pulmonary Patient
Abstract Mr. Smith is a 68-year-old man with chronic obstructive lung disease on supplemental oxygen who presented to the emergency department with influenza A and a Staphylococcus aureus superinfection. The…
Chapter 10 – Hypoxic–Ischemic Brain Injury after Cardiac Arrest
Abstract Mr. Jones is a 65-year-old man with a past medical history of coronary artery disease who is admitted after an unwitnessed pulseless electrical activity arrest at home. He achieved…
Chapter 9 – Shared Decision-Making during Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation
Abstract The use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) supports a patient’s respiratory or cardiovascular systems via an oxygenator and pump to enhance native function. Venoarterial support takes blood from a…
Chapter 8 – Renal Replacement Therapy
Abstract A 72-year-old man is brought to the emergency department from his skilled nursing facility for shortness of breath and altered mental status. He is admitted to the medical intensive…
