Key result
Most physicians (62%) from surveyed European centres would consider deactivating ICDs at a patient's end of life, yet the topic is actively discussed in only 4% of centres.
Why the study?
What are the current opinions and practices regarding the deactivation of ICDs at the end of life in European centres?
Population
Physicians from 47 large European centres
Design
Cross-sectional
Authors
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Low discussion rates despite physician openness signal a care gap; leaves open need for standardized protocols and prospective studies.
Cross-Sectional (n=47)
Yes
What are the current opinions and practices regarding the deactivation of ICDs at the end of life in European centres?
Despite most physicians being willing to deactivate ICDs at the end of life, proactive discussion with patients is rare and practices are inhomogeneous.
Marinskis et al. (2010) conducted a cross-sectional in Terminally ill patients with implanted cardioverter-defibrillators (n=47). Deactivation of implanted cardioverter-defibrillators at the end of life was evaluated on Physicians considering deactivating ICDs at the patient's end of life. Most physicians (62%) from surveyed European centres would consider deactivating ICDs at a patient's end of life, yet the topic is actively discussed in only 4% of centres.
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