Pediatric hematology and oncology
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Pediatr Hematol Oncol · Jan 2004
Care of a child dying of cancer: the role of the palliative care team in pediatric oncology.
The last period of life of a child suffering from cancer is of crucial importance not only for the child himself but for his parents and relatives as well. The way the child dies will remain in the memory of his parents for ever. Multiple problems in management of dying child may arise during this last phase. ⋯ Palliative care team consisting of medical and psychosocial staff plays vital role conveying comprehensive and timely management of all these problems and providing all necessary assistance for parents and other involved during ones' last weeks, days, and hours of child's life. The palliative care team cannot avert approaching death but it is responsible for making it as peaceful and as free of suffering as possible. This is achieved by vigorous control of all physical symptoms in the dying child and by paying close attention to all existential, emotional, and social demands of both the child and his relatives.
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Pediatr Hematol Oncol · Jan 2004
Comment Letter Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study Clinical TrialMidazolam compared with ketamine for invasive procedures.
The combination of ketamine and topical placebo cream was compared with the combination of midazolam and topical lidocaine-prilocaine cream (EMLA) in 13 children with leukaemia undergoing bone marrow punctures. This double-blind, randomized, crossover study showed that the children prefer midazolam and EMLA as sedation for invasive procedures and that some parents and the nursing staff have doubts because of the anxiety during the procedure and the physical restraint that often is necessary during midazolam and EMLA. Both methods cause several, more or less unpleasant, side effects.
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Pediatr Hematol Oncol · Dec 2003
MultiCenter outcome of pediatric oncology patients requiring intensive care.
A retrospective cohort study was conducted to evaluate the intensive care outcome of pediatric cancer patients between 1996 and 1998. The study comprised 20 pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) and 802 patients with cancer requiring PICU care. Patients with a history of cancer were identified from PICUs participating in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit Evaluations program. ⋯ Pediatric cancer patients receiving intensive care do well overall. Outcomes have substantially improved and, in general, the diagnosis of cancer should not limit the provision of intensive care. Additionally, resource use in terms of lengths of stay in the PICU is not different between cancer and noncancer patients.
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Pediatr Hematol Oncol · Sep 2003
Case ReportsEncouraging result of tamoxifen in a retinoblastoma patient with central nervous system metastasis.
Extraocular retinoblastoma occurs more frequently in developing countries as a delayed diagnosis and prognosis of patients with conventional therapy is very poor. Metastatic retinoblastoma, especially in the central nervous system (CNS), is a highly lethal disease. ⋯ She was in remission until she has died in a traffic accident at week 114. The authors think that tamoxifen can be added to treatment protocols of metastatic retinoblastoma to provide longer and at least higher quality of life for these patients.