title: End-of-life care of the geriatric surgical patient.
abstract: Providing end-of-life care is a necessity for nearly all health care providers and especially those in surgical fields. Most surgical practices will involve caring for geriatric patients and those with life-threatening or terminal illnesses where discussions about end-of-life decision making and goals of care are essential. Understanding the differences between do not resuscitate (DNR), palliative care, hospice care, and symptom management in patients at the end of life is a critical skill set.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, 9200 W. Wisconsin Avenue, Suite 3510, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Peschman
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Mailcode L223, Portland, OR 97239, USA. Electronic address: brasel@ohsu.edu.
authors.forename: Karen J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Brasel
mesh_terms: D016223:Advance Directives; D000368:Aged; D003142:Communication; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D009325:Nausea / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D013727:Terminal Care; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Care conferences; Do not resuscitate; End-of-life; Goals of care; Hospice; Palliative care; Palliative surgery; Surgical ethics