Causes, characteristics of ICU deaths

Editor's Note

In this French study, the majority of ICU patients had at least one organ failure at the time of death.

Of 698 patients analyzed, 84% had one or more organ failures and 89% required at least one organ support at the time of death. Deaths were considered unexpected in 225 patients and anticipated in 473.

Compared to anticipated, unexpected deaths occurred earlier (1 vs 5 days), had fewer organ failures (1 to 2 vs 1 to 3), and had more organ supports (2 to 3 vs 1 to 2). Withdrawal or withholding of treatments accounted for half of the deaths.

Anticipated and unexpected deaths represent two different modes of dying and exhibit profiles reflecting the different pathophysiologic mechanisms, the researchers concluded.

Critical Care Medicine Causes and Characteristics of Death in Intensive Care Units: A Prospective Multicenter Study From the Réanimation Polyvalente et Surveillance Continue, Hôpital Pasteur 2, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice, Nice, France (J.-C.O., Y.W., C.I.); Service d'Anesthésie et des Réanimations Chirurgicales, Hôpitaux Universitaires Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris,