End-of-Life Care of a Patient With Pontine Stroke and Prolonged Hospitalization: A Case Report
Department
Internal Medicine
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Cureus
Abstract
Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability in the United States that can lead to loss of function and consciousness. With the abrupt onset of the brain insult, end-of-life care discussions are an important attribute of respecting the patient's best wishes and upholding the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, fidelity, and justice. Furthermore, the topic of extending life support to individuals with poor prognostic factors of improvement in quality of life and functional recovery has been a continued topic of debate due to a multitude of factors, including the wishes of the patient, familial emotions, cultural beliefs, and religious influences. This case involves a patient who suffered from a left pontine stroke, necessitating multiple end-of-life care conversations. Despite no clinical improvement for several years, the patient required prolonged hospitalization and ongoing ventilator use.
First Page
e59351
DOI
10.7759/cureus.59351
Volume
16
Issue
4
Publication Date
4-1-2024
PubMed ID
38817477
Recommended Citation
Howard, S., Tam, R., Naser, M., & Jawish, M. (2024). End-of-Life Care of a Patient With Pontine Stroke and Prolonged Hospitalization: A Case Report. Cureus, 16 (4), e59351. https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.59351