Palliative care in the intensive care unit

Despite the existence of advance directive options, thousands of patients w ill die annually in ICUs, Patients deserve humane and patient-centered deat hs regardless of setting. The principles of palliative care can be applied in the ICU setting, Palliative care requires clear and timely communication with patients and families, good interdisciplinary team work, scrupulous a ttention to symptom management, and organized bereavement follow-up, Unforu nately, these topics have not traditionally been at focus of training, care or policy in intensive care. This article explores these aspects of care a s they apply in the ICU and provides concrete recommendations for implement ation based on the experience in two ICUs in university-affiliated programs .