Caring for Kids. Pediatric Palliative Care and End-of-Life Care Nicole C. Hahnlen, BS, RN Hummingbird Program Clinical Coordinator

Caring for Kids. Philosophy and Principles of Palliative Care Palliative Care Hospice

Caring for Kids. Palliative Care Curative Focus: Disease-Specific Treatments Palliative Focus: Comfort / Supportive Treatments BereavementSupport

Caring for Kids. General Principles of Palliative Care for Children Palliative care can occur simultaneously with curative care Child and family viewed as unit of care Attention to physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs

Caring for Kids. General Principles of Palliative Care for Children Interdisciplinary team approach Ongoing assessment and clarification of desires/priorities important Quality of life is subjective

Caring for Kids. Model of Quality of life Physical Well-Being Psychological Well-Being Social Well-Being Spiritual Well-Being Ferrell, et al, 1991

Caring for Kids. Physical Well-Being Pain Multiple other symptoms Impact on family caregivers

Caring for Kids. Psychological Well-Being Wide range of emotions and concerns Meaning of illness Coping

Caring for Kids. Social Well-Being Relationship/role description Caregiver burden Financial concerns Impact on siblings

Caring for Kids. Spiritual Well-Being Religion and spirituality Seeking meaning Hope vs. despair Importance of ritual

Caring for Kids. Physical Functional Ability Strength/Fatigue Sleep & Rest Nausea Appetite Constipation Pain Psychological Anxiety Depression Enjoyment/Leisure Pain Distress Happiness Fear Cognition/Attention Quality of Life Social Financial Burden Caregiver Burden Roles & Relationships Affection/Sexual Function Appearance Spiritual Hope Suffering Meaning of Pain Religiosity Transcendence Adapted from Ferrell, et al. 1991

Caring for Kids. Epidemiology Approximately 500,000 children cope with life- threatening conditions annually in the United States 1 Over 50,000 infants and children die annually in the United States 2 1. Himelstein BP et al. N Eng J Med 2004; 350: Hoyert DL et al. Pediatrics 2006; 117:168

Caring for Kids. Leading Causes of Infant Death Congenital & Chromosomal Anomalies Disorders related to SGA & LBW SIDS Maternal Complications of Pregnancy Complications of Placenta, Cord & Membranes Respiratory Distress Accidents Bacterial Sepsis Diseases of the Circulatory System Intrauterine Hypoxia & Birth Asphyxia Martin JA et al. Pediatrics 2005; 115:619

Caring for Kids. Leading Causes of Childhood Death (1- 19 years old) Accidents (unintentional injuries) Assault (homicide) Malignant Neoplasms Intentional Self Harm (suicide) Congenital & Chromosomal Anomalies Diseases of Heart Chronic Lower Respiratory Diseases Influenza and Pneumonia Septicemia Cerebrovascular Diseases Martin JA et al. Pediatrics 2005; 115:619

Caring for Kids. Angus DC et al. Crit Care Med 2004; 32:638

Caring for Kids. Contrasting Goals of Intensive Care and Palliative Care Intensive Care To fight death To cure To prolong life at all costs Palliative Care To promote physical, psychological, spiritual, and social comfort To promote the acceptance of death as an outcome

Caring for Kids. Mode of Death in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit The most common mode of death in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is the limitation or withdraw of life sustaining therapy (LST) Vernon DD et al. Crit Care Med 1993; 21:1798 Mink RB et al. Pediatrics 1992; 89:961

Caring for Kids. Types of LST Forgone Mechanical Ventilation Vasoactive Infusions Renal Replacement Therapies Invasive Catheters Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Antibiotics Intravenous Fluids Feeds

Caring for Kids. Factors Important to Parents’ Decisions to Forgo LST Quality of life Likelihood of improvement Pain or discomfort Unlikely to survive hospitalization What I believe my child would have wanted Information the staff provided Meyer EC et al. Crit Care Med 2002; 30:226

Caring for Kids. Factors Important to Parents’ Decisions to Forgo LST, continued Religious/spiritual beliefs Child’s appearance or behavior Advice of hospital staff Attitudes of hospital staff Advice of family and friends Financial costs Meyer EC et al. Crit Care Med 2002; 30:226

Caring for Kids. Reasons for Clinicians Limiting or Withdrawing LST No benefit - Imminent death Excessive burden - Unacceptable decrement in quality of life No relational benefit - Survival with severe neurologic dysfunction Diagnosis Acute versus chronic disease Randolph AG et al. Crit Care Med 1997; 25:435 Levetown M et al. JAMA 1994; 272;1271 Keenan HT et al. Crit Care Med 2000; 28:1590

Caring for Kids. Reasons for Clinicians Limiting or Withdrawing LST, continued Perceived benefit Prognosis Family preference Probability of survival Functional status or Quality of life Randolph AG et al. Crit Care Med 1997; 25:435 Levetown M et al. JAMA 1994; 272;1271 Keenan HT et al. Crit Care Med 2000; 28:1590

Caring for Kids. Physicians’ Responsibilities & the Decision Making Process Inform the patient & family when end of life discussions need to occur because treatment no longer confers benefit & should be forgone Provide the patient & family with adequate information about therapeutic and diagnostic benefits Elicit questions and ascertain whether or not information and advice is understood Ascertain the patient’s & family’s personal values and goals of therapy Provide advice about which option to choose Documents orders & progress notes in the medical record AAP Committee on Bioethics Pediatrics 1994; 93:532

Caring for Kids. Role of the Nurse The importance of presence Maintaining a realistic perspective Nurses as the safety net

Caring for Kids. The Ideal Decision Making Process Is shared between the caregiver team, patient, & family Reaches a consensus on a medical plan that is in accordance with the values and choices of the patient and family Begins early during the ICU admission with a multidisciplinary meeting which: –Uses nontechnical language –Allows ample time for questions –Considers the patient’s & family’s personal values and goals of therapy Is one of negotiation Is documented Thompson BT et al Crit Care Med 2004; 32:1781

Caring for Kids. Improving the Quality of End-of-Life Care in the PICU Parents’ priorities and recommendations include: –Honest and complete information –Ready access to staff –Communication and coordination of care –Emotional expression and support by staff –Preservation of the integrity of the parent-child relationship –Faith Meyer EC et al. Pediatrics 2006; 117:649

Caring for Kids. The Hummingbird Program at Penn State Children’s Hospital A consultative service that provides comprehensive medical, emotional, social, and spiritual support to the children and families facing life- threatening, complex medical conditions.

Caring for Kids. Hummingbird Program Goals: To support the medical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of children with life-threatening complex medical conditions and their families To assist in communication, navigation and coordination of care between various inpatient and community specialists and healthcare services To assist patient and families in decision making regarding various treatment options To assist patients and families in defining and meeting their goals and wishes thereby enhancing quality of life

Caring for Kids. The Hummingbird Program at Penn State Children’s Hospital Any child with a complex medical condition and the following criteria may qualify for help from the Hummingbird program: The condition causes significant pain, emotional, social, or physical distress The condition causes fragmentation of medical care and communication The condition disrupts the ability to perform age appropriate life activities The condition results infrequent emergency department visits, hospitalizations, or prolonged length of hospital stay The condition requires assistance with complex decision-making and determination of medical goals of care