[Therapeutic limitation conducts in intensive care unit patients].

Background And Objectives: There is a growing tendency of looking for "dying with dignity", rather than to prolong death and suffering of terminal patients on intensive care units (ICU). This study aims to evaluate medical practices that suggest therapeutic limitation (TL) in patients who died in an adult ICU.

Methods: A retrospective exploratory study was carried out to evaluate medical records of patients who died in a general adult ICU of a private hospital in Salvador-BA, between January and August of 2003, after at least 24 hours from the admission.

[Analysis of stressors for the patient in Intensive Care Unit].

Background And Objectives: The hospital environment, especially in Intensive Care Units (ICU), due to the complexity of the assistance, as well as the physical structure, the noise, the equipments and people's movement, is considered as stress generator for the patients. The aim of this study was to identify and stratify the stressful factors for patients at an ICU, in the perspective of the own patient, relatives and health care professionals.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between June and November 2004 in a general ICU of a private hospital.