Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40425201›Full record

ArticleBMJ paediatrics open2025

Short-term outcomes of treatment limitation discussions in neonatal care units of tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.

Rozina Iqbal, Ariba Siddiqui, Wajiha Khan, Aneela Pasha, Danish Abdul Aziz, Arshalooz Rahman

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ paediatrics open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Rozina IqbalPaediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan rozinaa.iqbal@yahoo.com rozina.iqbal@aku.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0002-7980-3289
Ariba SiddiquiPaediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Wajiha KhanPaediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0004-0022-1855
Aneela PashaPaediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5866-8239
Danish Abdul AzizPaediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.
Arshalooz RahmanPaediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo determine the short-term outcomes of treatment limitation discussions (TLDs) in neonates with life-limiting conditions and life-threatening conditions.

designDescriptive cross-sectional study. SETTINGS: The study was conducted at the neonatal care units of a single tertiary care hospital in Karachi, Pakistan. PATIENTS: Neonates for whom clinicians or parents considered TLDs were included in the study. The study duration was from May 2022 to May 2023.

interventionsNone.

main outcome measuresPrimary outcome was documented in the form of frequency of full code, withdrawal of life-sustaining support, and do not resuscitate (DNR) orders in neonates. The secondary outcome was categorised as discharge, death, transfer from the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) to a step-down unit or leave against medical advice (LAMA).

resultsA total of 115 patients were included. Full code was documented in 14 patients (12.2%), withdrawal of life-sustaining support in 54 cases (47.0%) and DNR in 47 patients (40.9%). Of the 115 cases, 11 (9.6%) were discharged, 90 (78.3%) died, 7 (6.1%) were shifted out of the NICU and 7 (6.1%) LAMA. We found that 14 out of 115 parents (12.2%) chose the full code option despite clinicians advising withdrawal or DNR. Of those, 13 (92.8%) did not survive, and 1 (7.1%) was shifted out of the NICU.

conclusionsThe most frequent outcome after TLD was withdrawal of life-sustaining support. The majority of babies did not survive following TLD, irrespective of the code decided. Early transition out of the NICU was considered for babies with DNR orders.

Indexed as

Intensive Care Units, NeonatalResuscitation OrdersWithholding TreatmentCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornMalePakistanTertiary Care CentersChild HealthEthicsNeonatologyPalliative Care

Identifiers

PMID40425201
PMCPMC12107565

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