Table 2 Patient vignettes (short version)

1

67, male retired bus driver, ARDS, COVID-19, cardiogenic shock, smoker, carotid stenosis, patient decree unavailable, full therapy. Patient is mechanically ventilated in ICU with low-dose catecholamine therapy

2

55, female vendor, fronto-basal meningioma, compression of fourth ventricle, epilepsy, pre-surgery but cerebral herniation imminent, ICU needed post-operatively, not yet in ICU

3

45, male teacher, ARDS, COVID-19, infected by student, stable in the ICU, extubation planned

4

88, female “crazy cat lady”, femoral neck fracture, chronic heart failure, dementia, post operation, no PACU available

5

34, male mechanic, suicide attempt by jumping off a roof top (10 m), pneumothorax, severe traumatic brain injury with cerebral edema and signs of mesencephal inherniation, splenic rupture, open femur fracture, fracture of dens axis, fracture of fifth lumbal vertebrae with rupture of the spinal cord, hemorrhagic shock, ARDS. Mechanically ventilated with high-dose catecholamine therapy. Patient scheduled for emergency operations

6

66, female, sudden cardiac arrest by STEMI, lay rescuer CPR (45 min), cardiogenic shock, hypothermia, transported by EMS to the ICU, cath-lab planned in 10 min, mechanical ventilation

7 ( 1)

67, male retired bricklayer, ARDS, COVID-19, cardiogenic shock, smoker, carotid stenosis, patient decree unavailable, full therapy. Patient is mechanically ventilated in ICU with low-dose catecholamine therapy [Case Doublette, #1]

8

68, male, retired person, intracerebral haemorrhage into the basal ganglia, ventilated for 12 days, otherwise stable, neurological rehabilitation planned, family members insist on full therapy

9

28, female, ARDS, COVID 19, infected by toddler via kindergarten,

morbid obesity, ventilated for 14 days, 100% oxygen, ECMO not available

10 ( 3)

44, male teacher, COVID-19 ARDS, intubated 4 days ago. [Case Doublette, #3]

11

51, female police officer, severe peritonitis after colon resection due to colon cancer, septic shock with acute renal injury and daily dialysis, abdominal wound dehiscence, mechanical ventilation

12 ( 8)

68, male pensioner, intracerebral haemorrhage into the basal ganglia, ventilated for 12 days, otherwise stable, neurological rehabilitation planned, family members insist on full therapy [Case Doublette, #8]

13

61, male industrial clerk, aortic aneurysm (6.8 cm), severe peripheral occlusive artery disease, hypoventilation syndrome, chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, diabetes type 2, operation planned tomorrow

14

31, female, severe trauma 5 years ago, minimal conscious state, dysfunction of ventriculo-peritoneal shunt system, epilepsy, tetraspastic with baclofen pump, tracheostoma, revision of VP shunt planned with need for 1 day ICU care postoperatively

15

61, male pharmacist, severe progressive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Bacterial pneumonia with acute respiratory failure, CPAP home therapy, progressive respiratory failure, wants to survive with tracheostomy to finish writings with computer based ocular assistance

16

38, male, Down syndrome, COVID 19 pneumonia, severe respiratory failure (nasopharyngeal tube in place), intubation and mechanical ventilation needed in ICU