Intensive care unit admission in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Intensive care unit admission in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: patient information and the physician's decision-making process. Critical Care 2014, 18: R115

Schmidt, M., et al.

http://ccforum.com/content/pdf/cc13906.pdf

ICU admission is required in more than 25% of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) at some time during the course of the disease. However, only limited information is available on how physicians communicate with COPD patients about ICU admission. COPD patients and relatives from 19 French ICUs were interviewed at ICU discharge about their knowledge of COPD. French pulmonologists self-reported their practices for informing and discussing intensive care treatment preferences with COPD patients. Finally, pulmonologists and ICU physicians reported barriers and facilitators for transfer of COPD 
patients to the ICU and to propose invasive mechanical ventilation.