The American journal of hospice & palliative care
-
Dyspnea, the sensation of difficult breathing, is a common debilitating symptom in advanced cancer and chronic progressive cardiopulmonary disease. Primary treatment is correction of the underlying etiology. In incurable illness wherein the cause is irreversible and the goal is palliation, opioids are the drugs of choice for symptomatic relief. This article reviews current knowledge in the pathophysiology of dyspnea, proposed opioid mechanism of action, and evidence of efficacy.
-
Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Jan 2003
Review Case ReportsPhenol saddle blocks for intractable pain at end of life: report of four cases and literature review.
Four cancer patients with prior bladder diversions had phenol neurolytic saddle blocks performed for intractable pelvi-sacral pain. All patients had advanced disease, the focus of their treatment being palliative. ⋯ No significant block-related adverse effects were encountered. The value and technical aspects of intrathecal saddle blocks in end-of-life pain management is discussed.
-
Am J Hosp Palliat Care · Nov 2002
Communicating with surrogate decision-makers in end-of-life situations: substitutive descriptive language for the healthcare provider.
This article discusses the manner and actual wording used by healthcare providers in communicating difficult information as it relates to end-of-life discussions. Several examples are given and substitutive language is suggested for more effectively obtaining informed consent from surrogate decision-makers, who are often responsible for determining the course of care for the terminally ill.
-
Increasing numbers of people have been supplementing their health care needs with complementary therapies. Complementary therapies have been used to promote health and treat patients with a variety of ailments. ⋯ The purpose of this study was to survey primary caregivers (PCGs) regarding their perceptions and satisfaction with a hospice complementary therapy program. Perhaps this study's most interesting finding is that patients who received complementary therapies were generally more satisfied with overall hospice services.