Table 2:

Patient clinical course characteristics

CharacteristicNo. (%) of patients*
n = 101
Advanced life supports at any time in ICU
 Mechanical ventilation67 (66.3)
 Inotropes65 (64.4)
 Dialysis4 (4.0)
Advanced life supports withdrawn just before death
 Mechanical ventilation60 (59.4)
 Inotropes41 (40.6)
 Dialysis0 (0.0)
Consults
 Spiritual care38 (37.6)
 Palliative care16 (15.8)
 Social work53 (52.5)
 Psychology1 (1.0)
 Organ donation coordinator24 (23.8)
Consent for donation
 Yes, donation after cardiac death3 (12.5)
 Yes, donation after neurologic death2 (8.3)
 No donation made7 (29.2)
 Patient ineligible for organ donation12 (50.0)
Patient death in hospital
 Yes98 (97.0)
 No2 (2.0)
 Still in palliative unit1 (1.0)
Enrolment in 3WP initiated by
 Principal investigator8 (7.9)
 3WP team5 (5.0)
 Bedside nurse76 (75.2)
 Spiritual care1 (1.0)
 ICU attending physician4 (4.0)
 Other7 (6.9)
Days from hospital admission to ICU admission, median (IQR)0 (0–3)
Days from ICU admission to death, median (IQR)6 (3–10)
Days from hospital admission to death, median (IQR)9 (4–16)
Days from ICU admission to enrolment in 3WP, median (IQR)5 (2–9)
Days from enrolment in 3WP to death, median (IQR)1 (0–1)
  • Note: 3WP = 3 Wishes Project, ICU = intensive care unit, IQR = interquartile range.

  • * Unless indicated otherwise.

  • Of 24 patients with a consult from organ donation coordinator.

  • For patients who did not die in hospital, the date of intensive care unit discharge was used to calculate days from hospital admission to death, days from intensive care unit admission to death, and days from enrolment in 3 Wishes to death.