December 2013
Palliat Support Care. 2013. [Epub ahead of print]
Pereira S, Kozikowski A, Pekmezaris R, Sunday S, Mir T, Saad M, Corrado L, Wolf-Klein G
In a retrospective chart review of 90 patients in an intensive care unit who were ventilator-assisted, the timing of a palliative care review and how it influenced length of stay and drug costs was evaluated. The time until a palliative care review correlated with total days on mechanical ventilation and length of stay in intensive care, with an earlier consultation decreased these. The palliative care review also correlated to drug costs which were reduced after the review from an average of $230.96 to $30.62. Costs increased for analgesics (including opioids) and antiemetics were increased, with opioid infusions increasing from 37% to 90%. It is suggested on the grounds of cost and improved patient care that earlier referral to palliative care should be made in this patient group.