PurposeTo investigate the attitudes among cardiac surgery ICU patients and their families regarding life-sustaining treatment.MethodsA total of 172 pairs of patients in the cardiac surgery ICU of Nanjing First Hospital and their family members were enrolled in this study that examined their attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment using a willingness to care for life-sustaining treatment questionnaire. The consistency of the attitudes of patients and family members toward life-sustaining treatment was analyzed by the chi-square test with a paired design.ResultsThe most popular life-sustaining treatment for cardiac ICU patients was noninvasive mechanical ventilation (79.1%); the most unpopular was intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation (48.3%). Most patients and their families had not considered electric defibrillation (65.7%), but most understood and were willing to permit cardiopulmonary resuscitation (76.2%). Few family members agreed that patients should receive a pacemaker (25.0%). The consistency of life support attitudes of patients and their families ranged from 12.8% to 60.5% for procedures both would agree to, 1.2% to 19.8% for procedures they were unwilling to permit, and 0.6% to 39.0% for procedures they had not considered. Kappa values ranged from 0.218 to 0.597 (P< 0.05), with general consistency.ConclusionCardiac surgery ICU patients families are generally consistent in their attitudes toward life-sustaining treatment, and family members’ choices are not representative of patients’ wishes.