Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgeons and Palliative Care: A National Survey Study

Title

Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgeons and Palliative Care: A National Survey Study

Creator

Morell E; Thompson J; Rajagopal S; Blume ED; May R

Publisher

Journal of palliative care

Date

2019

Subject

adolescent; adult; article; child; clinical article; female; human; hypoplastic left heart syndrome; male; medical care; palliative therapy; pediatric cardiology; perception; prenatal diagnosis; thoracic surgeon

Description

BACKGROUND: The majority of children with advanced heart disease in the inpatient setting die in an intensive care unit under 1 year of age following multiple interventions. While pediatric cardiology and palliative care provider attitudes have been described, little is known about pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon attitudes toward palliative care in children with advanced heart disease. OBJECTIVE: To describe perspectives of pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons regarding palliative care in pediatric heart disease. DESIGN: Cross-sectional web-based national survey. RESULTS: Of the 220 surgeons who were e-mailed the survey, 36 opened the survey and 5 did not meet inclusion criteria (n = 31). Median years of practice was 23.5 (range: 12-41 years), and 87.1% were male. Almost all (90%) reported that they had experience consulting palliative care. While 68% felt palliative care consultation was initiated at the appropriate time, 29% felt it occurred too late. When asked the appropriate timing for palliative care consultation in hypoplastic left heart syndrome, 45% selected "at time of prenatal diagnosis" and 30% selected "when surgical and transcatheter options have been exhausted." Common barriers to palliative care involvement included the perception of "giving up" (40%) and concern for undermining parental hope (36%). CONCLUSIONS: While a majority of pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons are familiar with palliative care, there is variation in perception of appropriate timing of consultation. Significant barriers to consultation still exist, including concern that parents will think they are "giving" up, undermining parental hope, and influence of palliative care on the medical care team's approach.

Rights

Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).

Citation List Month

December 2019 List

Collection

Citation

Morell E; Thompson J; Rajagopal S; Blume ED; May R, “Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgeons and Palliative Care: A National Survey Study,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed March 29, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/16552.