Table 2 Futile or potentially inappropriate treatment in the 101 patients
N= | ||
|---|---|---|
Futile | Physiological stabilization in the emergency room (ER) not possible | 8 |
Early recognition of futility (within the time frame of primary, secondary and tertiary trauma survey but after the ER) | 42 | |
Later recognition of futility. Physiological goals could not be accomplished. Deteriorating, e.g., refractory intracranial pressure occurred after a transient initial stabilization. | 9 | |
Potentially inappropriate | Treatment started, but it might not be possible to accomplish improvement or stabilization. An effect might be accomplished but may not be wanted. | 42 |