New guidelines for sepsis care integrating palliative care and end of life care concepts

• Published in: BMJ supportive & palliative care Vol. 2; no. 2; p. 194
• Main Author: Kleinpell, R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London British Medical Journal Publishing Group 01.06.2012; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• ISSN: 2045-435X; 2045-4368
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2012-000250.90

Sepsis is a worldwide healthcare condition that is responsible for a significant percentage of neonatal, paediatric and adult deaths. Improving the recognition of sepsis can help to improve early detection and treatment to ultimately improve outcomes for patients with sepsis. The Surviving Sepsis Guidelines are international guidelines that have been established to outline best practices for the management of sepsis. The new 2012 guidelines provide a number of updates including a focus on establishing goals of care and integration of palliative care and end of life care concepts. New recommendations include that goals of care and prognosis be discussed with patients and families. In addition, goals of care should be incorporated into treatment and end-of-life care planning, utilising palliative care principles. Goals of care should be addressed as early as feasible but no later than within 72 hours. This session will discuss the process of updating the guidelines, highlighting key features of the new guidelines with respect to the integration of palliative and end of life care concepts.