Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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The need to treat dehydration in terminally ill patients has become a very controversial topic. Numerous reports in the literature illustrate opposing view-points from both clinical and ethical perspectives. Arguments for the maintenance of hydration in terminally ill patients have tended to come from "the traditional medical model". ⋯ This review presents a summary of the traditional arguments, a different perspective on the controversy, biochemical parameters reported in terminally ill cancer patients, recent dehydration research, and the use of hypodermoclysis and rectal hydration. We conclude that the data reported to date are insufficient to allow a final conclusion on the benefit or harm of dehydration in terminally ill patients. Nevertheless, it is worth considering that while some dying patients may not suffer any ill effects from dehydration, there may be others who do manifest symptoms, such as confusion or opioid toxicity, that might be alleviated or prevented by parenteral hydration.
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Support Care Cancer · May 1997
Oral dolasetron mesilate (MDL 73,147EF) for the control of emesis during fractionated total-body irradiation and high-dose cyclophosphamide in patients undergoing allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.
The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of oral dolasetron mesilate in the prevention of nausea and vomiting that might otherwise be induced by total-body irradiation (TBI) and high-dose cyclophosphamide. In an open non-comparative study 20 patients who received TBI for 3 days and high-dose cyclophosphamide chemotherapy for 2 days as part of their preparation for bone marrow transplantation were given oral dolasetron mesilate at dosages ranging from 50 to 200 mg 1 h before each fraction of radiotherapy and cyclophosphamide administration. Initial rescue therapy consisted of intravenous dolasetron mesilate. ⋯ No unexpected abnormalities were observed in haematology, biochemistry or urinalysis, and vital signs were unaffected throughout the study period. The data suggest that oral dolasetron mesilate is effective and safe for the prevention of nausea and vomiting during TBI and cyclophosphamide chemotherapy prior to bone marrow transplantation. Future controlled studies should evaluate combination antiemetic therapy with dolasetron mesilate for this indication.