The basic aim of Intensive Care Medicine is care for the critical patient, that is, persons with a disease or condition that is life-threatening but with possibilities of recovery. In spite of the treatments, even those involving life support, cure is frequently not achieved and this is when the question is raised of withdrawing treatment due to criteria of futility. Once that decision is taken, efforts must be directed towards applying the necessary care to achieve an end to life without pain or suffering, endeavouring to ensure that the patient is accompanied by his loved ones. Studies show the shortcomings in training and health care that exist in caring for patients at the end of their lives within the sphere of the Intensive Care Units. This article reviews the contribution that can be made by Palliative Care in improving care for patients that die in the ICU and for their relatives. The ontology of palliative care aims to achieve an improvement of symptoms, the prevention of possible complications, to determine and respect the welfare of the patient, and to help the family in the final process and in mourning. It therefore involves different disciplines from the health field which must work with common aims. In situations of the end of life the knowledge and sensitivity of the professionals must be at the service of faithful commitment to the patient, making it possible to redirect therapeutic efforts towards the proposed aims.

No abstract

Editorial 1 Veinticinco años y toda una vida por delante Originales 3 Versión española del Hospice Comfort Questionnaire para evaluar el confort en pacientes en cuidados paliativos: adaptación transcultural y validación 12 Construcción de un instrumento de screening sobre la priorización de la evaluación de trabajo social sanitario en una unidad de cuidados paliativos de agudos 22 Adaptación transcultural y validación del cuestionario PG-13 para la detección precoz de duelo prolongado 36 Caracterización del dolor en neoplasias hematológicas avanzadas del adulto en la red pública. Ministerio de salud de Chile 43 Exploración de los valores y deseos de pacientes con enfermedad crónica avanzada y con enfermedad crónica compleja. Conversaciones acerca del final de la vida 50 Prevalencia de la adherencia terapéutica a opioides mayores en una muestra de pacientes oncológicos avanzados. Estudio piloto 55 Actitudes ante la muerte en voluntarios acompañando pacientes al final de la vida: estilos de apego y fatiga por compasión Original breve 62 Neurólogos y demencias avanzadas, ¿estamos preparados para los mejores cuidados? Revisión 67 Aproximación terapéutica al síndrome de anorexia-caquexia en pacientes con cáncer. Revisión sistemática de la literatura Artítulo especial 76 Propuesta de un repertorio bibliográfico sobre enfermedad crónica avanzada y cuidados paliativos Imagen del mes 83 Diplopia en un paciente con cáncer de próstata avanzado Cartas al Director Biblioteca temática

RESUMENEl objetivo fundamental de la Medicina Intensiva es la atención al paciente crítico, es decir, personas con una enfermedad o condición amenazante para su vida pero con posibilidades de recuperación; a pesar de los tratamientos, incluidos los de soporte vital, con frecuencia no se consigue la curación y es entonces cuando se plantea la retirada de los mismos por criterios de futilidad. Una vez adoptada esa decisión los esfuerzos deben dirigirse a aplicar los cuidados necesarios para conseguir un final de la vida sin dolor ni sufrimiento, procurando que el paciente esté acompañado de sus seres queridos. Estudios realizados muestran las lagunas formativas y asistenciales que existen en la atención a los pacientes en el final de la vida dentro del ámbito de las Unidades de Medicina Intensiva. El presente artículo revisa la aportación que los Cuidados Paliativos pueden ofrecer para mejorar la asistencia a los enfermos que fallecen en UMI y a sus familiares. La ontología de cuidados paliativos tiene como objetivos la mejoría sintomática, la prevención de las posibles complicaciones, conocer y respetar los criterios de bienestar del paciente y la atención a la familia en el proceso final y en el duelo. Por tanto, implica a diversas disciplinas del campo de la salud y las impelen a trabajar con objetivos comunes. En situaciones de final de la vida el conocimiento y la sensibilidad de los profesionales tienen que estar al servicio del compromiso de fidelidad con el paciente que permita reorientar los esfuerzos terapéuticos hacia los objetivos propuestos.Palabras clave. Medicina Intensiva. Cuidados Paliativos. Final de la vida. Reorientación esfuerzo terapéutico. ABSTRACTThe basic aim of Intensive Care Medicine is care for the critical patient, that is, persons with a disease or condition that is life-threatening but with possibilities of recovery. In spite of the treatments, even those involving life support, cure is frequently not achieved and this is when the question is raised of withdrawing treatment due to criteria of futility. Once that decision is taken, efforts must be directed towards applying the necessary care to achieve an end to life without pain or suffering, endeavouring to ensure that the patient is accompanied by his loved ones. Studies show the shortcomings in training and health care that exist in caring for patients at the end of their lives within the sphere of the Intensive Care Units. This article reviews the contribution that can be made by Palliative Care in improving care for patients that die in the ICU and for their relatives. The ontology of palliative care aims to achieve an improvement of symptoms, the prevention of possible complications, to determine and respect the welfare of the patient, and to help the family in the final process and in mourning. It therefore involves different disciplines from the health field which must work with common aims. In situations of the end of life the knowledge and sensitivity of the professionals must be at the service of faithful commitment to the...

Background: Care models for advanced chronic patients present two key aspects: early identification and advanced care planning (ACP). In 2014, Catalonia arranged the ACP Model (ACPM), addressed to chronic patient's complex needs, into a public health-social system (HSS). Aims: Describe the implementation process (IP) of an ACPM. Methods: A core group of professionals (n=55) was convened to develop the ACPM with the co-participation of patients, caregivers, social agents and healthy persons. Inclusion criteria included: solid professional trajectory, equal representation as for territory and professional profile. Four work levels were defined: conceptual document (CD) and implementation guide (IG) elaboration; training program (ITP) development; building-up of patients, professionals and healthy persons discussion groups (DG). The CD and IG were written with the agreement of expert professionals in legislation, ethics, medical specialities, nursing, anthropology, social work and psychology. The ITP is being created, as a key aspect of the IP. Results: CD and IG have been published. Simultaneously, DGs are established so as to make the CD a work product of high quality. The ITP is currently being developed, based on CD and IG contents. These documents have been reviewed by around 100 professionals from the Catalan HSS. The ITP contents focus on communication skills; legal and ethical aspects; patient and family needs. Discussion: ACP is a challenge for the model of care towards advanced chronic patients. Lasmarías; The Model of Advanced Care Planning in Catalonia (Spain). Conclusions: ACP is a challenge for the model of care towards advanced chronic patients. The Catalan Model of ACP establishes the conceptual and pragmatic foundations of ACP and develops the training of the professionals daily taking care of such type of patients.