[Comfort Terminal Care in the intensive care unit: recommendations for practice].

Background And Objective: The Working Group on Ethics in Anesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine of the Austrian Society for Anesthesiology Resuscitation and Intensive Care Medicine (ÖGARI) already developed documentation tools for the adaption of therapeutic goals 10 years ago. Since then the practical implementation of Comfort Terminal Care in the daily routine in particular has raised numerous questions, which are discussed in this follow-up paper and answered in an evidence-based manner whenever possible.

Results: The practical implementation of pain therapy and reduction of anxiety, stress and respiratory distress that are indicated in the context of Comfort Terminal Care are described in more detail.

[Definitions, decision-making and documentation in end of life situations in the intensive care unit].

The present work provides assistance for physicians concerning decision making in clinical borderline situations in the ICU. Based on a structured checklist the two fundamental aspects of any medical decision, the medical indication and the patient's preference are queried in a systematic way. Four possible steps of withholding and/or withdrawing therapy are discussed.