Procedural interventions for terminally ill children – Are we aiding palliation?

Procedural interventions for terminally ill children – Are we aiding palliation?
Journal of Palliative Care; by Hannah Phillips, MD, Sarah Perry, MS, Laura A Shinkunas, MS, Erica M Carlisle, MD; 5/24
Many children undergo surgery or an invasive procedure during their terminal hospital admission. The types of procedures, patients, and the intent of the procedures has not been well defined. Understanding these details may help pediatric surgeons better determine the clinical settings in which certain procedures will not enhance palliation or survival. ... 132 children met inclusion criteria. Most children were White and less than one year old. The most common type of diagnosis was cardiac in nature. Children underwent an average of three procedures. 75% were intubated and 77.5% had palliative care involved. Patients who were less than one year old at death were more likely to have been intubated, had longer terminal hospital stays, and had more procedures. Those who were intubated underwent more procedures and had longer hospital stays. Those with longer palliative care involvement had fewer procedures. ... Ongoing study may help refine which procedures may have limited impact on survival in the chronically ill pediatric population.