introduction: n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunits antibody (nr2-ab) is a sensitive marker of ischemic brain damage in clinical circumstances, such as cerebrovascular accidents. we aimed to assess the value of serum nr2-ab in predicting the post-cardiopulmonary resuscitation (cpr) survival. methods: in this cohort study, we examined serum nr2-ab levels 1 hour after the return of spontaneous c...

Background: The cerebral performance category (CPC) score is widely used in research and quality assurance to assess neurologic outcome following cardiac arrest. However, little is known about the results of the CPC in Turkey. Objective: This study aimed to determine whether the CPC is associated with the initial rhythm and resuscitation time following re...

Prior studies have revealed deficiencies in the care provided to patients dying from advanced medical illnesses in acute care hospitals. These deficiencies are best addressed through system change, which may include the development of clinical pathways and quality improvement models. The Palliative Care for Advanced Disease (PCAD) pathway was developed by an interdisciplinary team and includes ...

BACKGROUND End-of-life care is not usually a priority in cardiology departments. We sought to evaluate the changes in end-of-life care after the introduction of a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order protocol. METHODS & RESULTS Retrospective analysis of all deaths in a cardiology department in two periods, before and after the introduction of the protocol. Comparison of demographic characteristics,...

The Truth About CPR All Patients and Families Need to Know CPR stands alone as the only intervention the patient must state explicitly that he or she does not want. Today, every patient is a “full code” unless a DNR order is documented clearly in the medical record. However, the probability of success of CPR varies based on the cause of the arrest, the patient’s health status, and the availabil...

OBJECTIVE To analyze the medical practices and the end-of-life care provided to children admitted to pediatric intensive care units in different parts of the globe. SOURCES Articles on end-of-life care published during the last 20 years were selected from the PubMed, MEDLINE and LILACS databases, with emphasis on studies of death in pediatric intensive care units in Brazil, Latin America, Eur...

STUDY OBJECTIVES Do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders have been espoused for the enhancement of patient autonomy, avoidance of futile medical intervention, and cost containment. Outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the intensive care setting have been dismal, with few patients surviving to discharge. This study compares patients who died in medical and surgical ICUs in a DNR status wit...

he concept of cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was introduced in the 1960s in western medicine as an attempt to rescue patients who were found pulseless or apneic. Consequently, it was realized that CPR in some groups of patients did not add any meaningful benefit, but rather led to inflicting suffering to the dying patient. This led to the concept of do-not-resuscitate (DNR), which dates b...

Shortly before his death in 1995, Kenneth B. Schwartz, a cancer patient at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), founded The Kenneth B. Schwartz Center at MGH. The Schwartz Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing compassionate health care delivery which provides hope to the patient, support to caregivers, and encourages the healing process. The Center sponsors ...