Palliative care is underutilized and affects healthcare costs in ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms.

Palliative care (PC) is a multidisciplinary approach to managing patients who are seriously ill. The American College of Surgeons has recognized and advocated for PC, and PC improves symptom management and quality of life, 1 Temel J.S. Greer J.A. Muzikansky A. et al. Early palliative care for patients with metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer. N Engl J Med. 2010; 363: 733-742 Crossref PubMed Scopus (4407) Google Scholar reduces healthcare costs, 2 Morrison R.S. Penrod J.D. Cassel J.B. et al. and the Palliative Care Leadership Centers’ Outcomes GroupCost savings associated with US hospital palliative care consultation programs. Arch Intern Med. 2008; 168: 1783-1790 Crossref PubMed Scopus (571) Google Scholar and improves physician-patient communication. 3 Casarett D. Pickard A. Bailey F.A. et al. Do palliative consultations improve patient outcomes?. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2008; 56: 593-599 Crossref PubMed Scopus (212) Google Scholar