Publications by authors named "Merulla E"
Racial disparities in end-of-life suffering within surgical intensive care units.
Trauma Surg Acute Care Open
September 2024
Article Synopsis
- The study investigates end-of-life (EOL) care in a surgical intensive care unit (SICU) setting, focusing on how provider assessments of futility influence the rate of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) decisions among patients.
- A retrospective analysis of a SICU registry from 2018-2022 revealed that only a quarter of deceased patients had expected deaths, with notable differences in DNR status based on injury type and race.
- The findings indicate that Black patients were less likely to have DNR status at death, emphasizing the need for improved discussions around EOL care to prevent unnecessary interventions and suffering.