Palliative medicine
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2020
Meta AnalysisA mixed-methods systematic review and meta-analysis of barriers and facilitators to paediatric symptom management at end of life.
Symptom management for infants, children and young people at end of life is complex and challenging due to the range of conditions and differing care needs of individuals of different ages. A greater understanding of these challenges could inform the development of effective interventions. ⋯ There is a need for effective communication between healthcare professionals and families, more training for healthcare professionals, improved symptom management planning including anticipatory prescribing, and urgent attention paid to the patients' perspective.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2020
Specialist paediatric palliative care for children and young people with cancer: A mixed-methods systematic review.
Specialist paediatric palliative care services are promoted as an important component of palliative care provision, but there is uncertainty about their role for children with cancer. ⋯ Current evidence suggests that children and young people with cancer receiving specialist palliative care are cared for differently. However, little is understood about children's views, and research is needed to determine whether specialist input improves quality of life.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2020
Prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms on palliative care patients in a university hospital-bound palliative care unit: A prospective cohort analysis.
Multidrug-resistant organisms are a growing challenge and burden to patient care. To date, there are only data concerning the prevalence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections. Thus, numbers of other multidrug-resistant organisms can only be extrapolated and inferred from more or less comparable cohorts. ⋯ There is a high prevalence of all multidrug-resistant organisms within the hospitalized palliative care patients. However, the multidrug-resistant organisms do not seem to impact the survival within this cohort. Further studies should evaluate additional end-points, for example, quality of life, which are of special interest in this cohort.
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2020
Patient-reported symptoms and problems at admission to specialized palliative care improved survival prediction in 30,969 cancer patients: A nationwide register-based study.
Large, nationally representative studies of the association between quality of life and survival time in cancer patients in specialized palliative care are missing. ⋯ Most symptoms/problems were significantly associated with survival and mainly physical function improved predictions of death. Interestingly, the predictive value of physical function was the same as all clinical variables combined (in hospice) or even higher (in palliative care teams).
-
Palliative medicine · Jun 2020
Case ReportsRepeated subcutaneous esketamine administration for depressive symptoms and pain relief in a terminally ill cancer patient: A case report.
Depressive disorders are common among cancer patients. Ketamine can quickly relieve depression, and its subcutaneous administration appears to be as effective as and probably safer than its standard intravenous administration. Herein, we report a case verifying the antidepressant effect of a subcutaneous esketamine formulation. ⋯ Placebo-controlled studies with similar cases are needed to establish efficacy and safety.