Specialist perinatal palliative care: a retrospective review of antenatal referrals to a children's palliative care service over 14 years.
Antenatal
Fetal
Paediatric palliative care
Perinatal
Journal
BMC palliative care
ISSN: 1472-684X
Titre abrégé: BMC Palliat Care
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101088685
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
10 Nov 2023
10 Nov 2023
Historique:
received:
29
08
2023
accepted:
31
10
2023
medline:
13
11
2023
pubmed:
10
11
2023
entrez:
10
11
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Perinatal palliative care is an emerging branch of children's palliative care. This study sought to better understand the pattern of antenatal referrals and the role of a specialist paediatric palliative care (PPC) team in supporting families throughout the antenatal period. A single-centre retrospective chart review of all antenatal referrals to a quaternary children's palliative care service over a 14-year period from 2007 to 2021. One hundred fifty-nine antenatal referrals were made to the PPC team over a 14-year period, with increasing referrals over time. Referrals were made for a broad spectrum of diagnoses with cardiac conditions (29% of referrals) and Trisomy 18 (28% of referrals) being the most prevalent. 129 referrals had contact with the PPC team prior to birth and 60 had a personalised symptom management plan prepared for the baby prior to birth. Approximately one third (48/159) died in utero or were stillborn. Only a small number of babies died at home (n = 10) or in a hospice (n = 6) and the largest number died in hospital (n = 72). 30 (19% of all referrals) were still alive at the time of the study aged between 8 months and 8 years. Specialist PPC teams can play an important role in supporting families during the antenatal period following a diagnosis of a life-limiting fetal condition and demand for this service is increasing. A large proportion of the cases referred will not survive to the point of delivery and a number of babies may survive much longer than predicted. PPC teams can be particularly helpful navigating the uncertainty that exists in the antenatal period and ensuring that plans are made for the full spectrum of possible outcomes.
Sections du résumé
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND
Perinatal palliative care is an emerging branch of children's palliative care. This study sought to better understand the pattern of antenatal referrals and the role of a specialist paediatric palliative care (PPC) team in supporting families throughout the antenatal period.
METHODS
METHODS
A single-centre retrospective chart review of all antenatal referrals to a quaternary children's palliative care service over a 14-year period from 2007 to 2021.
RESULTS
RESULTS
One hundred fifty-nine antenatal referrals were made to the PPC team over a 14-year period, with increasing referrals over time. Referrals were made for a broad spectrum of diagnoses with cardiac conditions (29% of referrals) and Trisomy 18 (28% of referrals) being the most prevalent. 129 referrals had contact with the PPC team prior to birth and 60 had a personalised symptom management plan prepared for the baby prior to birth. Approximately one third (48/159) died in utero or were stillborn. Only a small number of babies died at home (n = 10) or in a hospice (n = 6) and the largest number died in hospital (n = 72). 30 (19% of all referrals) were still alive at the time of the study aged between 8 months and 8 years.
CONCLUSIONS
CONCLUSIONS
Specialist PPC teams can play an important role in supporting families during the antenatal period following a diagnosis of a life-limiting fetal condition and demand for this service is increasing. A large proportion of the cases referred will not survive to the point of delivery and a number of babies may survive much longer than predicted. PPC teams can be particularly helpful navigating the uncertainty that exists in the antenatal period and ensuring that plans are made for the full spectrum of possible outcomes.
Identifiants
pubmed: 37946164
doi: 10.1186/s12904-023-01302-5
pii: 10.1186/s12904-023-01302-5
pmc: PMC10636919
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
177Informations de copyright
© 2023. The Author(s).
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