Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2009
Randomized Controlled TrialNo recovery of cold complex regional pain syndrome after transdermal isosorbide dinitrate: a small controlled trial.
The microcirculation appears to be impaired in cold chronic complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized trial investigated the effect of the nitric oxide (NO) donor isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN) on the peripheral blood flow in patients with chronic CRPS. Twenty-four patients received 1% ISDN in Vaseline or a placebo ointment applied to the dorsum of the affected hand four times daily for 10 weeks. ⋯ ISDN failed to produce a significant improvement in temperature asymmetry in chronic cold CRPS patients, and it did not result in the expected reduction in pain and increase in activity compared with placebo either. There may be other central or peripheral factors contributing to the disturbed vasodynamics in cold chronic CRPS that are not influenced by NO substitution. This study does not show an improvement of the regional blood distribution by ISDN in the involved extremity of patients with cold-type CRPS.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2009
ReviewIndwelling catheters for the management of refractory malignant ascites: a systematic literature overview and retrospective chart review.
The safety and efficacy of indwelling intraperitoneal (IP) catheters for the management of refractory malignant ascites is unclear. A systematic literature overview and retrospective chart review of patients with malignant refractory ascites who underwent indwelling IP catheter placement was performed. Standardized literature abstraction and chart review templates were used to ensure that consistent information was collected. ⋯ The median time from catheter until death was 36 days (range: 4-660). Nine patients (47%) were admitted to hospice. In these retrospective studies, indwelling IP catheters appear to be a safe and effective palliative strategy to manage refractory malignant ascites, without overwhelming infection rates.
-
Off-label prescription is part of routine care in palliative medicine, but no information is available about the situation in Italy. A cross-sectional observational survey was undertaken on all 66 Italian palliative care freestanding inpatient units to describe off-label prescriptions. Data were collected on 507 patients. ⋯ The off-label prescriptions were subsequently evaluated by referring to the Italian National Pharmaceutical Formulary (INPF) and the British Palliative Care Formulary (PCF2). Although drugs are frequently prescribed off-label in inpatient palliative care units in Italy, this strategy was not always backed by clinical evidence, and in some cases, official/authoritative sources, such as INPF and PCF2 did not support it. Clinical trials and/or agreed international guidelines are needed to support the off-label use of the most widely prescribed drugs in palliation.
-
Persistent hiccups may have a considerable impact on general health through disturbance of diet, sleep, and mood. They can cause exhaustion, malnutrition, dehydration, wound dehiscence, and even death in extreme cases. We report a complex clinical case of intractable hiccups in a patient with cancer of the pancreas and Parkinson's disease and some of the problems encountered when attempting symptom control. We also discuss a potential therapeutic response to a novel agent, amantadine, unlicensed in the treatment of hiccups.
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Sep 2009
Artificial hydration therapy for terminally ill cancer patients: a nurse-education intervention.
The Japanese Society of Palliative Medicine has developed a clinical guideline to minimize the large variation in clinical practice of artificial hydration therapy for terminally ill cancer patients. The primary aim of this preliminary study was to explore the effects of a five-hour interactive workshop based on the guideline of nurses' knowledge, confidence, self-reported practice, and nurse-perceived usefulness. The study was designed as a pre-post anonymous questionnaire survey. ⋯ Based on these results, it is possible that a five-hour interactive workshop on artificial hydration therapy, based on the clinical guideline of the Japanese Society of Palliative Medicine, improves nurses' knowledge, confidence, and self-reported practices. The workshop was generally perceived as useful for nurses. Nationwide dissemination of the guideline with interactive workshop education for nurses, in combination with physicians, is a promising method for improving the clinical practice of artificial hydration therapy for terminally ill cancer patients.