Objective : To investigate end-of-life care at the Department of General Medicine of Saku Central Hospital (DGSCH).
Methods : A retrospective survey of medical records of patients who died at DGSCH in 2011.
Results : 101 patients died in that year. The average age was 85.2, and 73% patients lived in Saku city. The main causes of death were pneumonia (30%), cancer (20%) and senility (20%). Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was performed in 4% of patients. Total parenteral nutrition was performed in 8% and tube feeding therapy was performed in 12%.
Conclusion : Patients who died at DGSCH were elderly patients who lived near the hospital, and most died without invasive medical procedures.