Orthopedic patient

[Lily2009]

Just a Q.

My ex's family live in the US and grandma (95yrs) has had an oxygen cylinder for a few years due to ongoing lung issues -generally pneumonia 3/4 times a yr, etc.

She fractured her NOF a few days ago and surgery has been arranged for next week.

The reason the family want to go ahead is because they want her to have a better quality of life example not bedsores.

I have been nursing in Australia (Surgical/ ortho since 2011. As far as I am aware in ortho a patient who has lung issues should never have surgery and not at that age due to the respiratory issues before and after. The mortality rate is not worth it.

Bedsores are going to be a major issue - here we have not the time nor staff to do 2 hrly turns.  I know you guys are in the exact same position.

The family don't want advice - but then again they need to hear from a professional the outcome is poor. They have no medical background and believe that surgery is the best way to go to improve her quality of life.

She also uses a walker and lives in a nursing home. Quite fit and mobile but not moving freely and rehab is just sadness.

Can the family cancel the surgery? Where can they go to get more advice and support? Do you have advocates who can act on their behalf medically?

Any advice that I can pass on to them (I know nothing apparently) medications, quality of life to be expected, outcomes? 

My children are also visiting the family as grandma has been holding on to see them for 4 yrs!! Both of them are nursing students and have knowledge but .. 

Please someone just help. So hard being on the other side of the world.

[offlabel]

Her mortality from not having her hip fracture repaired dwarfs whatever lung issues she's having right now. Doesn't sound like a great situation but all things being equal, she'll more than likely die sooner without the surgery than with it. Bedsores are the least of her problems with an unrepaired broken hip. Her immobility alone is enough of a set up for a devastating pneumonia let alone deep vein thrombosis risk. 

 

sound like you're advocating for hospice/comfort care and that is a conversation for the patient and her close family. 

[Lily2009]

Thankyou so much for your reply. Her heart has been failing so the cardiac surgeon made the decision to go ahead anyway. Whatever will be, will be.