Discussion of treatment trials in intensive care.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to characterize whether and how the option of a treatment trial is discussed with surrogates in intensive care units.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We audio-recorded 72 family conferences for 72 patients at high risk for death or severe functional impairment in 5 intensive care units in San Francisco, California. We analyzed transcripts to develop a coding framework for whether and how trials were discussed.

RESULTS

Trials were offered in 15% of conferences. We identified 2 types: (1) time-limited trials, defined as continuing all intensive, life-sustaining treatments, with a plan to reassess after a defined time period based on prespecified clinical milestones, and (2) symptom-limited trials, defined as using basic medical care aimed at survival (rather than purely comfort-focused treatment) once ventilatory support is withdrawn, with a plan to reassess based on patient symptoms. Clinicians frequently did not inform surrogates about key elements of the trial such as criteria by which the effectiveness of the trial would be evaluated and possible next steps based on trial results.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of critically ill patients, trials were infrequently and incompletely discussed. Additional work is needed to improve communication about treatment trials and evaluate their impact on patient and family outcomes.