Outcome of children who survive despite a decision of treatment limitation in the paediatric intensive care unit

Abstract

Children survival after a decision of treatment limitation (DTL) in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) is a recent concern. Our objectives were to present data on the outcome of children who survived despite DTL, and review how information about DTL is transmitted between PICUs and the teams in charge of the children after PICU discharge. Interestingly, more than 20% of the children survive despite DTL; however, all these children remain dependent on their parents for all activities of daily life. Half of them would be referred to PICU if presenting any severe illness. Additionally, despite significant progress in the transmission of information regarding DLT by PICUs, improvement is still expected to better involve the teams in charge after PICU discharge.