Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Der implantierte Kardioverter/Defibrillator (ICD) erlaubt einen wirksamen Schutz vor malignen Herzrhythmusstörungen. Dass am Lebensende das ICD-Gerät mit wiederholten Schockabgaben zu einem traumatisierenden Sterbeprozess führen kann, ist ein ethisches Dilemma. Wir untersuchten den empirischen Stand des Wissens und Handelns der Ärzte und die Bedürfnisse der betroffenen ICD-Patienten in dieser kritischen Lebensphase.
Methode
Die Literaturrecherche zwischen 8/2010 und 3/2011 in PubMed mit Publikationen ab 1990 führte zu 32 Einzelarbeiten, von denen 25 als themenrelevant angesehen wurden.
Ergebnisse
In praktisch keiner klinischen Einrichtung in Europa (96%) werden Fragen zum Umgang mit dem ICD am Lebensende routinemäßig dem ICD-Patienten angeboten. Nur bei rund 25% der sterbenden Patienten kommt es zu einer vom Arzt initiierten Aussprache, die in den meisten Fällen erst in den letzten Stunden vor dem Tod des Patienten stattfindet. Bei rund der Hälfte der Ärzte bestehen Unsicherheiten über die Legalität einer Gerätedeaktivierung. Ärzte haben oft unrealistische Vorstellungen über den Wissensstand der Patienten und sind über Einzelheiten der ICD-Schocktherapie unzureichend informiert. Nur sehr wenige Daten existieren über Patientenwünsche. Insgesamt scheinen ICD-Patienten einer Diskussion über dieses Thema reserviert gegenüber zu stehen und mehrheitlich den Wunsch zu haben, eine Entscheidung dem Arzt zu überlassen.
Schlussfolgerung
Trotz mangelhafter empirischer Basis sprechen die vorhandenen Daten für eine geringe Bereitschaft der ICD-Patienten, sich mit Fragen des Lebensendes auseinander zu setzen und für ausgeprägte Wissenslücken der Ärzte, die als Barrieren für ein angemessenes Verhalten verantwortlich sind.
Abstract
Background
The implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) is highly effective in the therapy of malign heart rhythm abnormalities. However, the ethical dilemma of harming a dying patient has received little attention. We studied the current state of knowledge and behavior of physicians and the subjective needs of ICD patients with respect to end-of-life issues.
Methods
A literature search of articles published between 8/2010 and 3/2011 in PubMed resulted in the identification of 32 reports, of which 25 met selection criteria.
Results
Practically no clinical institution (96% in Europe) offers routine counseling of ICD patients on end-of-life issues. In only about 25% of cases do doctors initiate a discussion on this issue with the ICD patient, of which the majority takes place during the final hours of the patient’s life. Knowledge of legal aspects of ICD deactivation is insufficient in about 50% of physicians. Many physicians underestimate the impact of ICD shocks and often have unrealistic expectations about the patient’s knowledge on technical aspects of the ICD device. The majority of patients are reluctant to address this topic and prefer to rely on the decision of their attending physician.
Conclusion
Despite insufficient empirical data, findings point to a low willingness of ICD patients to confront the end-of-life issue and prefer decisions to be made by their physician. Substantial knowledge gaps of physicians may cause barriers in considering the option of deactivating the ICD.
Literatur
Bundesärztekammer (2011) Grundsätze der Bundesärztekammer zur ärztlichen Sterbebegleitung. Dtsch Arztebl 108(7)
Epstein AE, Dimarco JP, Ellenbogen KA et al (2008) ACC/AHA/HRS 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Revise the ACC/AHA/NASPE 2002 Guideline Update for Implantation of Cardiac Pacemakers and Antiarrhythmia Devices): developed in collaboration with the American Association for Thoracic Surgery and Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Circulation 117(21):e350–e408
Farber NJ, Simpson P, Salam T et al (2006) Physicians‘ decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining treatment. Arch Intern Med 166(5):560–564
Gillick MR (2004) Medicare coverage for technological innovations – time for new criteria? N Engl J Med 350(21):2199–2203
Goldstein N, Bradley E, Zeidman J et al (2009) Barriers to conversations about deactivation of implantable defibrillators in seriously ill patients: results of a nationwide survey comparing cardiology specialists to primary care physicians. J Am Coll Cardiol 54(4):371–373
Goldstein N, Carlson M, Livote E, Kutner JS (2010) Brief communication: Management of implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in hospice: A nationwide survey. Ann Intern Med 152(5):296–299
Goldstein NE, Lampert R, Bradley E et al (2004) Management of implantable cardioverter defibrillators in end-of-life care. Ann Intern Med 141(11):835–838
Goldstein NE, Mehta D, Siddiqui S et al (2008) That’s like an act of suicide patients‘ attitudes toward deactivation of implantable defibrillators. J Gen Intern Med 23(Suppl 1):7–12
Goldstein NE, Mehta D, Teitelbaum E et al (2008) It’s like crossing a bridge complexities preventing physicians from discussing deactivation of implantable defibrillators at the end of life. J Gen Intern Med 23(Suppl 1):2–6
Kelley AS, Reid MC, Miller DH et al (2009) Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator deactivation at the end of life: a physician survey. Am Heart J 157(4):702–708
Kobza R, Erne P (2007) End-of-life decisions in ICD patients with malignant tumors. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 30(7):845–849
Kramer DB, Kesselheim AS, Brock DW, Maisel WH (2010) Ethical and legal views of physicians regarding deactivation of cardiac implantable electrical devices: a quantitative assessment. Heart Rhythm 7(11):1537–1542
Ladwig KH, Ronel J, Baumert J, Kolb C (2010) Psychological comorbidity and quality of life in patients with an implantable cardioverter/defribrillator (ICD). Herzschrittmacherther Elektrophysiol 21(2):129–136
Lampert R, Hayes DL, Annas GJ et al (2010) HRS Expert Consensus Statement on the Management of Cardiovascular Implantable Electronic Devices (CIEDs) in patients nearing end of life or requesting withdrawal of therapy. Heart Rhythm 7(7):1008–1026
Lewis WR, Luebke DL, Johnson NJ et al (2006) Withdrawing implantable defibrillator shock therapy in terminally ill patients. Am J Med 119(10):892–896
Marinskis G, Erven L van (2010) Deactivation of implanted cardioverter-defibrillators at the end of life: results of the EHRA survey. Europace 12(8):1176–1177
Martinez-Selles M, Vidan MT, Lopez-Palop R et al (2009) End-stage heart disease in the elderly. Rev Esp Cardiol 62(4):409–421
Morrison LJ, Calvin AO, Nora H, Porter SC Jr (2010) Managing cardiac devices near the end of life: a survey of hospice and palliative care providers. Am J Hosp Palliat Care 27(8):545–551
Mueller PS, Hook CC, Hayes DL (2003) Ethical analysis of withdrawal of pacemaker or implantable cardioverter-defibrillator support at the end of life. Mayo Clin Proc 78(8):959–963
Mueller PS, Jenkins SM, Bramstedt KA, Hayes DL (2008) Deactivating implanted cardiac devices in terminally ill patients: practices and attitudes. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 31(5):560–568
Nambisan V, Chao D (2004) Dying and defibrillation: a shocking experience. Palliat Med 18(5):482–483
Padeletti L, Arnar DO, Boncinelli L et al (2010) EHRA Expert Consensus Statement on the management of cardiovascular implantable electronic devices in patients nearing end of life or requesting withdrawal of therapy. Europace 12(10):1480–1489
Piccini JP, Al Khatib SM, Hellkamp AS et al (2011) Mortality benefits from implantable cardioverter-defibrillator therapy are not restricted to patients with remote myocardial infarction: an analysis from the Sudden Cardiac Death in Heart Failure Trial (SCD-HeFT). Heart Rhythm 8(3):393–400
Quill TE, Barold SS, Sussman BL (1994) Discontinuing an implantable cardioverter defibrillator as a life-sustaining treatment. Am J Cardiol 74(2):205–207
Rady MY, Verheijde JL, McGregor JL (2009) Clinical guidelines and clinicians‘ intentions in end-of-life care. Chest 135(6):1696–1697
Sears SF, Sowell LV, Kuhl EA et al (2006) Quality of death: implantable cardioverter defibrillators and proactive care. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 29(6):637–642
Sherazi S, Daubert JP, Block RC et al (2008) Physicians‘ preferences and attitudes about end-of-life care in patients with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator. Mayo Clin Proc 83(10):1139–1141
Theuns DA, Smith T, Hunink MG et al (2010) Effectiveness of prophylactic implantation of cardioverter-defibrillators without cardiac resynchronization therapy in patients with ischaemic or non-ischaemic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Europace 12(11):1564–1570
Interessenkonflikt
Der korrespondierende Autor gibt an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ladwig, KH., Ischinger, N., Ronel, J. et al. Umgang mit ICD-Patienten an ihrem Lebensende: Einstellungen, Wissen und Verhalten von Ärzten und Patienten. Herzschr. Elektrophys. 22, 151–156 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00399-011-0138-x
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00399-011-0138-x
Schlüsselwörter
- Literaturrecherche
- Implantierbarer Kardioverter Defibrillator (ICD)
- Ethik
- Wissen, Einstellung, Verhalten
- Rechtliche Aspekte