How long will someone survive after removal of life support?

Nurses General Nursing

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I'm not sure where to post this question, but I hope this is the correct area. My grandmother was removed from life support two days ago due to not having a DNR. I was certain she would pass within a few hours, but she is still hanging on. She is on a morphine drip and they give her Ativan (sp) for seizures she is experiencing. In your experiences, what is the longest time you've seen someone survive after being removed from the ventilator and artificial nourishment?

I don't want to sound like I am rushing her to die, but she looks so uncomfortable laying there having seizures. Even though I don't think she is aware of anything going on or suffering, she just doesn't seem comfortable.

Thanks for your responses.

I learned when I was a hospice volunteer, that people almost always pass when their loved ones go to sleep or leave the room. The hospice nurse teaching us said that many believe people choose their time.

Peace to you and your family.

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Specializes in ICU.
Focker said:
I don't really understand why you think that would be a good thing to tell someone who is going through the death of a loved one. False hope is not helpful. People can linger on for varying periods of time, but a patient that is truly dependent on a ventilator and pressors at high levels, will die when they are abruptly removed.

Just the other day, I had a patient terminally weaned, from levo and dopa, and the vent, and lived with a pressure in the 40-50's and a sat of50-60% for 5 days. This does happen. people die when they are ready. And yes, we've terminally weaned people off pressors and vents, and ended up sending to ltc for months. While these things are not the norm, they do happen.

Sorry to hear about your grams. Prayers with you.

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Focker said:
I don't really understand why you think that would be a good thing to tell someone who is going through the death of a loved one. False hope is not helpful. People can linger on for varying periods of time, but a patient that is truly dependent on a ventilator and pressors at high levels, will die when they are abruptly removed.

I don't see where you are seeing this person is being given "false hope".... I truly believe the old adage of when it's someone's time to go, they are going. If people linger on, it wasn't their time. I was always taught it is perfectly fine to tell someone "there's always hope"...........that may be all someone has.......it's a different story if the loved ones are being told...oh so and so may be ok, or it gets worse before it gets better.............that is what I consider false hope... I as well believe also that people hang on due to unfinished business or because they are waiting for an ok to go or to see a loved one before.......jmpo

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first_lobster said:
Just the other day, I had a patient terminally weaned, from levo and dopa, and the vent, and lived with a pressure in the 40-50's and a sat of50-60% for 5 days. This does happen. people die when they are ready. And yes, we've terminally weaned people off pressors and vents, and ended up sending to ltc for months. While these things are not the norm, they do happen.

Sorry to hear about your grams. Prayers with you.

Absolutely agree here 100%. My own daughter went through this 3 years ago. She was on dopamine/dobutamine, lasix, and a few others that I can't remember but they were all the heavy duty drugs to try to keep her going. I remember she looked like someone who had a multi organ transplant from all the pumps hooked up to her. She was literally on her way out. "it's only a matter of time, nothing more we can do for her" the docs told us. Her lactic acid was sky high as well all from pancreatitis that turned to sepsis causing ards & multi organ failure. SATS in 60's on 100% o2 on an oscillating vent, face as purple/red as can be, body swollen like the michelin man and she pulled through after 4 days like this and we were waiting for her to pass (even with us all telling her it was ok to go on) and we really thought that was the end. Even the icu staff was afraid to turn her for position changes out of fear her heart would arrest. So I truly believe as well that when one is meant to go they will go when they are ready to. The body & mind are amazingly strong with willpower. I have witnessed it with my own eyes. The doctor who treated my daughter literally looked up at the ceiling when she opened her eyes for the 1st time after we saw her pulling through..and said to me " I have without a doubt witnessed a miracle here with my very own eyes. Someone or something of a higher power is most definitely watching over your daughter". So for a doctor to say that is highly unusual. I mean I even have pics of her going through this illness because I really though that was it with her. So I have actual proof, not just a story.

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Specializes in Ortho, Tele, Neuro, NH, ICU.

I have seen people go to the nursing homes that were terminally extubated. I have seen some pass within minutes to hours. It is hard to say. I agree that at times that are waiting to see somebody. You may want to whisper in your Grandmothers ear that it is "OK" to go, they may want to hear you or someone else give them permission. Tell her you all are ok with her "passing".

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Specializes in ER/Trauma.

I had a 92 year old on a morphine gtt.

Comfort care only - pt. family refused to move pt. to hospice or nursing home (Absolutely ridiculous! Tied up a private room on a surgical floor with a patient on comfort care!)

All we were doing was assessing her pain, oral/foley/peri care. No feeds, fluids or meds. We were waiting for her to die.

Well, four days later, LOL sits right up and in perfect English asks me for a cup of coffee!

She was discharged that day and ended up passing away 10 days later (at home!) ?

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Trauma, Ortho, Neuro, Cardiac.

I'm sorry about your impending loss. I've seen immediate death to days. There is no rhyme or reason or prediction, it's very individualized.

Roy, what a story!

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Focker said:
I don't really understand why you think that would be a good thing to tell someone who is going through the death of a loved one. False hope is not helpful. People can linger on for varying periods of time, but a patient that is truly dependent on a ventilator and pressors at high levels, will die when they are abruptly removed.

I think they were just trying to point out that no one really knows. Yes, most people die shortly after being taken off but it really varies. The thing that needs to be reinforced is that recoverys are rare, so rare that they standout in our minds when we see one so that is why we talk about them.

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I chose my 93 year old father to be on comfort care starting on a Sunday. His BP was 55/35 for several days. My son, who was in the Air Force, was able to come and see him on Tuesday evening (we had to contact the Red Cross and go through some gyrations to get him home). Although my dad was basically unresponsive, we saw his pulse quicken as my son (age 21) talked to his grandpa. Dad died about 36 hours later.

So, sometimes they do hang on until they have seen everybody they needed to see.

Oldiebutgoodie

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Thank you for all the replies and comforting words. They are moving her to a hospice this morning until she transitions over.

I wasn't specific earlier about the DRN. She was in a rehabilitation center when she stopped breathing. They transferred her to the hospital where she was given a tracheotomy to help her breath. Long story short, one of my family members had the living will that stated she did not want any extraordinary life saving measures taken. This was not presented to the rehabilitation center nor the hospital.

Thankfully, My grandma's sister had a copy and notified the proper hospital authorities, and they removed the ventilator and feeding tubes.

You guys are right, she will go in her own time. I really don't think she was ready or prepared for this, which is why she is hanging on. She opened her eyes yesterday too, I think she was letting us know that she hears us and knows we are there with her.

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My dad is heavily sedated on life support. I've been left with final decision as of this afternoon. I was wondering how long it would be until he passed if I chose to turn it off. It's not an easy decision

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Specializes in Trauma, Emergency.

God bless all of you struggling with such difficult circumstances. I will add you into my prayers tonight; the loss of a loved one can be so painful. {{{hugs}}}

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