Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Nov 2003
Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical TrialProbability of mortality of critically ill cancer patients at 72 h of intensive care unit (ICU) management.
To develop and validate a model for probability of hospital mortality for cancer patients at 72 h of intensive care unit (ICU) management. ⋯ We report a multivariable logistic regression model to estimate the probability of hospital mortality in critically ill cancer patients at 72 h of ICU care. The model is comprised of ten unambiguous and readily available variables. When used in conjunction with clinical judgment, this model should improve discussions about goals of care of these patients. Additional validation in a community hospital setting is warranted.
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It is estimated that one third of the population in Western industrial countries suffers from constipation at least from time to time. Constipation may have somatopathic or functional causes. Furthermore, a great number of substances are known to cause medication-induced constipation, i.e. opioid-induced constipation is caused by linkage of the opioid to opioid receptors in the bowel and the central nerve system. ⋯ From the general medical point of view, lubricating agents have become obsolete. In palliative care patients, however, they are still important laxatives for prophylactic treatment or therapy of constipation. Due to clinical experience, in palliative care a laxative ladder has proven successful.