Palliative Care in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit: Where Least Expected, Where Most Needed

Despite dramatic improvements in survival from a broad range of afflictions seen in the surgical critical care unit, the problem of suffering in its many forms and its long-term consequences will remain as long as mortality characterizes the human condition. Palliative care in the surgical intensive...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Geoffrey P. Dunn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2007-01-01
Series:Asian Journal of Surgery
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1015958409601202
Description
Summary:Despite dramatic improvements in survival from a broad range of afflictions seen in the surgical critical care unit, the problem of suffering in its many forms and its long-term consequences will remain as long as mortality characterizes the human condition. Palliative care in the surgical intensive care unit is an extension of time-honoured surgical principles and traditions that aims to relieve suffering and improve quality of life associated with serious illness as an end in itself or as part of treatment to save and prolong life.
ISSN:1015-9584