Co-operation of the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital in Bialystok with Palliative Medicine Centers in the years 2011–2016

Introduction: The principles of palliative medicine are interdisciplinary. In the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), for patients with irreversible disease, with a negative prognosis for improvement in health, in futile therapy, palliative care are provided. The consequence of the treatment in ICU is the desire to refer the patient to the Palliative Medicine Centers (PMC).

Aim of the study was to analyze patients hospitalized in the Intensive Care Unit of the University Hospital in Bialystok and transferred to the Centers for Palliative Medicine in the period 01.01.2011 – 31.12.2016.

Material and methods: The data obtained from the medical documentation were evaluated on a retrospective basis. For patients referred to PMC, information was collected on: primary diagnosis, coexisting conditions, hospitalization time, methods of preparing for palliative care.

Results: 2755 patients were hospitalized in ICU, 48 of them – 1.74% were transferred to PMC. Significant increase in number of patients reported over the years 2014, 2015 and 2016 has been demonstrated (p < 0.005). The most common indication for palliative care was chronic respiratory failure and a significant increase in the number of patients requiring palliative care was noted for this reason in 2015 and 2016 (p < 0.005).

Conclusions: Palliative medicine in ICU are most often performed in patients with chronic respiratory failure. The study indicated a high need for cooperation with PMC in the care of this group of patients. Publication of palliative care guidelines improved cooperation.