Journal of pediatric oncology nursing : official journal of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Nurses
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J Pediatr Oncol Nurs · Mar 2009
Use of continuous intravenous ketamine for end-stage cancer pain in children.
Children in the terminal stage of cancer may experience intractable pain despite the use of high doses of opioids. The resultant sedating effect of the opioids limits the child's ability to communicate and participate in activities, thereby negatively affecting quality of life. ⋯ At the authors' institution, 2 children with end-stage cancer were started on continuous infusion low-dose ketamine to help achieve adequate pain control and allow the children to be home and interactive for the last weeks of their lives. Each case illustrates the complexities of achieving and maintaining adequate pain control and promoting care of the child and family in a setting that is most appropriate for them.