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Palliative Care and Hospice in Patients with Advanced Cardiovascular Disease

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End-of-Life Care in Cardiovascular Disease

Abstract

Advanced cardiovascular disease is common and frequently carries a high symptom burden. With its focus on symptom control, advance care planning, and family support, palliative care augments traditional approaches to the care of patients who are dying and their families. Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death; however, hospice services remain relatively underused among this patient population. Difficulties with prognostication in cardiovascular disease have contributed to this, along with cultural and practice differences between cardiology and hospice and palliative care. Improving end-of-life care for patients with cardiovascular disease will require a proactive and collaborative approach between practitioners of both specialties.

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Abbreviations

AD:

Advanced directive

CHD:

Congenital heart disease

COPD:

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPAP:

Continuous positive airway pressure

DNR:

Do not resuscitate

EOL:

End of life

HF:

Heart failure

ICD:

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators

ICU:

Intensive care unit

NYHA:

New York Heart Association

SSRI:

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor

VAD:

Ventricular assist device

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Maria Dans MD

  2. Palliative Care Service, Internal Medicine 1, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, 4105 Queeny Tower, 1 Barnes-Jewish Hospital Plaza, St. Louis, MO, 63110-1093, USA

    Maria Dans MD

  3. Department of Medicine, Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Kathleen Garcia MD

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  1. Maria Dans MD
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Correspondence to Maria Dans MD .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Portland VA Medical Center,, Patient-Centered Education and Research, Salt Lake City, UT, USA, Portland, Oregon, USA

    Sarah J. Goodlin

  2. Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA

    Michael W. Rich

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Dans, M., Garcia, K. (2015). Palliative Care and Hospice in Patients with Advanced Cardiovascular Disease. In: Goodlin, S., Rich, M. (eds) End-of-Life Care in Cardiovascular Disease. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6521-7_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4471-6521-7_3

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