Objective: To evaluate the effect of an intervention on the understanding and use of DNR orders by physicians; to assess the impact of understanding the importance of involving competent patients in DNR decisions. Design: Prospective clinical interventional study. Setting: Internal medicine department (70 beds) of the hospital of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland. Participants: Nine junior physici...

BACKGROUND Despite a well-described association of age and injury with mortality and decreased functional status, inpatient mortality studies have traditionally not included analysis of do not resuscitate (DNR) status. We hypothesized that the increased likelihood of DNR status in older patients alters age-adjusted mortality rates in trauma. METHODS The trauma registry was queried for adult p...

BACKGROUND Since the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act, numerous policy mandates and institutional measures have been implemented. It is unknown to what extent those measures have affected end-of-life care, particularly with regard to the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. METHODS Retrospective cohort study to assess associations of the frequency and timing of DNR orders with advance...

Few studies have examined the outcome of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) patients in surgical intensive care units (SICUs). This study deliberated the association between a DNR decision and the increased risk of death methodologically and ethically. This study was conducted in three SICUs. We collected patients' demographic characteristics, clinical characteristics, and the status of death/survival at...

An investigationwas undertakenof the mechanismof a previouslyreportedcross-resistancebetweenvincristine (VCR) and daunorubicin(DNR) in Ehrlichascites tumor cells. No significantdifferencewas demonstratedfor the time course of [3H]VCRuptake in cells resistantto VCR (EHR 2/VCR+) and in cells resistant to DNR (EHR 2/ DNR+), whereaswild-typecellsaccumulatednearly6-fold more drug at steady state. Th...

STUDY OBJECTIVE Opinions regarding do-not-resuscitate (DNR) decisions differ between individual physicians. We attempted to determine whether the strength of DNR recommendations varies with medical specialty and experience. DESIGN Written survey. PARTICIPANTS Physicians from the pulmonary/critical-care medicine (PCCM), cardiology, internal medicine, gastroenterology, hematology/oncology, an...

OBJECTIVE There is concern that do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders may lead to stroke patients receiving less aggressive treatment and poorer care. Our objectives were to assess the relationship between DNR orders and quality of stroke care among veterans. METHODS A cohort of 3,965 acute ischemic stroke patients admitted to 131 Veterans Health Administration (VHA) facilities in fiscal year 2007 ...

OBJECTIVE To evaluate outcomes of patients who undergo surgery with a do-not-resuscitate (DNR) order. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING More than 120 hospitals participating in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program from 2005 to 2008. PATIENTS There were 4128 adult DNR patients and 4128 age-matched and procedure-matched non-DNR patients. ...

We examined the effect of tamoxifen (Tmx), verapamil, and daunorubicin (DNR) in two cell lines that displayed the multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotype and used laser flow cytometry to quantitate intracellular DNR content. In the vinblastine-resistant human lymphoblastic lymphoma cell line CEM-VBL, simultaneous incubation of DNR with Tmx 10 mumol/L or Tmx 50 mumol/L increased intracellular DNR fl...

BACKGROUND  Patients with terminal lung cancer and their families are challenged and stressed with the end of life discussions. Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders are a critical part of such discussions. OBJECTIVE  To understand the perceptions and preferences of patients with terminal lung cancer and their family caregivers around DNR discussions. . METHODS  Our quantitative component consist...