Denise Baird Schwartz, Albert Barrocas, John R Wesley, Gustavo Kliger, Alessandro Pontes-Arruda, Humberto Arenas Márquez, Rosemarie Lembo James, Cheryl Monturo, Lucinda K Lysen, Angela DiTucci
Based on current scientific literature, gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement or other long-term enteral access devices should be withheld in patients with advanced dementia or other near end-of-life conditions. In many instances healthcare providers are not optimally equipped to implement this recommendation at the bedside. Autonomy of the patient or surrogate decision maker should be respected, as should the patient's cultural, religious, social, and emotional value system. Clinical practice needs to address risks, burdens, benefits, and expected short-term and long-term outcomes in order to clarify practice changes...
December 2014: Nutrition in Clinical Practice