• Current oncology reports · Jul 2000

    Review

    The dying patient.

    • J D Cowan.
    • Palliative Medicine of East Tennessee, 1915 White Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37916, USA. JCowan@CovHlth.com
    • Curr Oncol Rep. 2000 Jul 1; 2 (4): 331-7.

    AbstractMost terminally ill patients experience symptoms that require treatment as death approaches. The most common symptoms are pain (5% to 51%), dyspnea (28%), oral and respiratory secretions (25%), nausea and vomiting (10% to 14%), confusion (10%), myoclonus (12%), and bowel and bladder problems (over 20%). These symptoms can be well controlled in up to 90% of individuals with appropriate communication; emotional, spiritual, and social support; noninvasive clinical evaluation; and therapy focused on symptom palliation. Types of drugs that are important in symptom control include opioids, co-analgesics, anxiolytics, and anticholinergics. To be effective, these medications must be readily available for use and often need to be given by a non-oral route.

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