Journal of pain and symptom management
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2010
Case ReportsSublingual atropine drops for the treatment of pediatric sialorrhea.
Excess oral secretions or sialorrhea is a common problem affecting children and adults with neurological disorders, as well as those approaching the end of life because of a variety of underlying illnesses. Systemic anticholinergic medications are often prescribed in an attempt to improve quality of life and reduce complications; yet, response rates are variable, and a sizable proportion of patients discontinue these drugs as a result of intolerable side effects. This report describes the successful use of a local treatment, sublingually delivered ophthalmic atropine drops, to reduce sialorrhea in a child receiving palliative care. In addition, medical evidence for the safety and efficacy of traditionally prescribed systemic medications for the treatment of pediatric sialorrhea is reviewed.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2010
Multicenter Study Clinical TrialLong-term safety and tolerability of fentanyl buccal tablet for the treatment of breakthrough pain in opioid-tolerant patients with chronic pain: an 18-month study.
Breakthrough pain (BTP) is highly prevalent in patients with chronic cancer and noncancer pain, commonly requiring treatment with short-acting or rapid-onset opioids. This is the first report of an analysis of long-term safety from combined clinical trials of a rapid-onset transmucosal formulation of fentanyl, the fentanyl buccal tablet (FBT). ⋯ FBT was generally safe and well tolerated, with self-reported functional improvement observed in most of the opioid-tolerant patients with BTP in association with chronic noncancer pain.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2010
Comparing noncancer and cancer deaths in Hong Kong: a retrospective review.
This retrospective study aimed to compare noncancer deaths with cancer deaths in the following: 1) utilization of the public health care system in the last six months of life; 2) end-of-life care received; and 3) documentation of the advance care planning (ACP) process. The following sample was recruited from the deaths in 2006 in four public hospitals for analysis: 656 noncancer deaths consisting of 239 deaths from chronic renal failure (CRF), 242 deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 175 deaths from congestive heart failure (CHF), and 183 cancer deaths. Only 1.4% of noncancer patients received palliative care, compared with 79.2% of cancer patients. ⋯ Dyspnea, edema, pain, and fatigue were among the most documented symptoms in both cancer and noncancer patients. A higher proportion of ACP discussions were first documented within three days before death in COPD and CHF patients as compared with CRF and cancer patients. There is a need to develop palliative care for noncancer patients in Hong Kong.
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J Pain Symptom Manage · Nov 2010
The care strategy for families of terminally ill cancer patients who become unable to take nourishment orally: recommendations from a nationwide survey of bereaved family members' experiences.
Anorexia is one of the most common symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients and causes considerable distress for both patients and their families. ⋯ A considerable number of family members experienced high levels of emotional distress when a terminally ill cancer patient became unable to take nourishment orally, and many perceived a necessity for improvement in professional practice they received. A recommended care strategy includes the following four major domains: 1) relieving the family members' sense of helplessness and guilt, 2) providing up-to-date information about hydration and nutrition at the end of life, 3) understanding family members' concerns and providing emotional support, and 4) relieving the patient's symptoms. Further research is needed to evaluate the effects of this care strategy on family members' outcomes, including clinical studies to obtain more accurate understanding of the symptomatic effects of hydration and nutrition in terminally ill cancer patients.