TY - JOUR
T1 - Delivering the News of an Intraoperative Death
T2 - Literature Based Guidance from the AATS Wellness Committee
AU - AATS Wellness Committee
AU - Edgerton, James R
AU - Warren, Ann Marie
AU - Wolf, Andrea S
AU - Ungerleider, Ross
AU - Ungerleider, Jamie Dickey
AU - Erkmen, Cherie P
AU - Maddaus, Michael
AU - Firstenberg, Michael S
AU - Olds, Anna Hollembeak
AU - Cerfolio, Robert J
AU - Mennander, Ari
AU - Motomura, Noboru
AU - Bremner, Ross M
N1 - Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier Inc.
PY - 2024/12/20
Y1 - 2024/12/20
N2 - OBJECTIVES: Fortunately, operating room deaths and unexpected deaths are infrequent occurrences. However, when they occur, the surgeon is called upon to deliver this news to family and loved ones. There is a paucity of literature on this topic and little guidance preparing cardiothoracic surgeons for this important but difficult situation. Further, the surgeon may very well lack prior experience with this challenging situation. Having contemplated this in advance and having a script in mind will likely benefit both the surgeon and family.METHODS: The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Wellness Committee called upon the available published literature, consultation with experts, and upon their collective experience and cumulative wisdom to address this topic.RESULTS: The result of this process is a narrative discussion of delivering news of an unexpected death and a bullet point guide to speaking with the bereaved family.CONCLUSIONS: In this stressful situation, precontemplation of the surgeon's duties and being armed with a bullet point guide may benefit the surgeon, family and heath care team. The lessons learned may be applicable to other situations requiring the delivery of distressing information.
AB - OBJECTIVES: Fortunately, operating room deaths and unexpected deaths are infrequent occurrences. However, when they occur, the surgeon is called upon to deliver this news to family and loved ones. There is a paucity of literature on this topic and little guidance preparing cardiothoracic surgeons for this important but difficult situation. Further, the surgeon may very well lack prior experience with this challenging situation. Having contemplated this in advance and having a script in mind will likely benefit both the surgeon and family.METHODS: The American Association for Thoracic Surgery Wellness Committee called upon the available published literature, consultation with experts, and upon their collective experience and cumulative wisdom to address this topic.RESULTS: The result of this process is a narrative discussion of delivering news of an unexpected death and a bullet point guide to speaking with the bereaved family.CONCLUSIONS: In this stressful situation, precontemplation of the surgeon's duties and being armed with a bullet point guide may benefit the surgeon, family and heath care team. The lessons learned may be applicable to other situations requiring the delivery of distressing information.
U2 - 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2024.12.017
DO - 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2024.12.017
M3 - Article
C2 - 39710175
SN - 0022-5223
JO - The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
JF - The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
ER -