End of Life Care in the ICU: From Advanced Disease to Bereavement(Oxford Specialist Handbooks in En

‧Concise chapters make it quick and easy to read up on a particular topic
‧Contains contributions from numerous experts from 3 continents to provide a comprehensive, yet concise and practical guide to the major issues that face patients, their families and the clinicians who work in modern day ICUs around the world

The Oxford Specialist Handbooks series provides readers with clear, concise information on all that is needed to successfully train in the medical sub-specialties. Each book gives an overview of clearly defined procedures, skills, guidelines, and technologies and provides practical tips and case studies to supplement hands-on experience. Where appropriate, each book complements the revised curriculum as developed by the Specialist Advisory Committees.

As palliative medicine does not have the resources to care for all patients with malignant and non-malignant chronic disease, government guidelines have pushed for its inclusion on the curriculum of most medical and surgical specialties. All specialties are being encouraged to become actively engaged in managing end of life care for their own patients.

End of life care in the ICU presents its own unique challenges, and this book highlights real clinical issues which need to be addressed if quality palliative care within ICUs is to be consistently delivered. It details strategies and evidence-based advice on the nature of effective palliative care in the ICU setting, dealing with issues such as diagnosing the dying, communicating with patients and families, the support of families and carers, multidisciplinary team work, TPN and fluids, dialysis, inotropic support, autonomy, dignity, effective symptom control, practical ethics and the process of decision making, management of dying, and bereavement care. This book is ideal for doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals working in the ICU and palliative care.

1: Introduction
2: Improving palliative and end-of-life care
3: Symptom control
4: Caring for families in the ICU
5: Cultural issues, spirituality and hope
6: Teamwork, relationships and moral distress
7: Legal issues and conflict resolution
8: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
9: Withholding and withdrawal of life support
10: Lessons learned
11: Personal stories and reflections
12: Special situations
13: Organ donation
14: Research issues
15: Web-based resources