Abstract
BACKGROUND: The impact of lung transplantation on end of life care in cystic fibrosis (CF) has not been widely investigated. METHODS: Information about end of life care was collected from records of all patients who died in our hospital from complications of CF between 1995 and 2005. Transplant and non-transplant patients were compared. RESULTS: Of 38 patients who died, 20 (53%) had received or were awaiting lung transplantation ("transplant" group), and 18 (47%) were not referred, declined transplant, or were removed from the waiting list ("non-transplant"). Transplant patients were more likely than non-transplant patients to die in the intensive care unit (17 (85%) versus 9 (50%); P=0.04). 16 (80%) transplant patients remained intubated at or shortly before death, versus 7 (39%) non-transplant patients (P=0.02). Do-not-resuscitate orders were written later for transplant patients; 12 (60%) on the day of death versus 5 (28%) in non-transplant patients (P=0.02). Transplant patients were less likely to participate in this decision. Alternatives to hospital death were rarely discussed. CONCLUSIONS: Receiving or awaiting lung transplantation affords more aggressive inpatient end of life care. Despite the chronic nature of CF and knowledge of a shortened life span, discussions about terminal care are often delayed until patients themselves are unable to participate.