The challenge of perioperative advance care planning

As our population ages there will be an increasing number of patients with life-limiting disease who may be referred for major elective surgery and more pressingly may present acutely, requiring major emergency surgical intervention.Due to the high risk of perioperative and postoperative complications associated this group of patients, it is paramount that specific advance care planning that encompasses a patient ’s goals of care and resuscitative status be clarified before undergoing surgery in this acute period.
Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - Category: Palliative Care Authors: Source Type: research