Journal of palliative medicine
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The sudden and unprecedented increase in seriously ill patients with COVID-19, coupled with both the lack of core palliative care training and expertise among frontline providers and the specialty-trained palliative care workforce shortage, produced immediate challenges to meet the needs of this novel seriously ill patient population. In this article, we describe the rapid expansion and creation of new specialty palliative care services across a health system to meet demands of the COVID-19 surge in New York City. During April 2020, 1019 patients received inpatient specialty palliative care consultations across the Mount Sinai Health System. This overview demonstrates how palliative care services can be titrated up rapidly to meet the acute increase in hospitalized persons with serious illness due to COVID-19, and how these services tailored to the changing needs across a health system.
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Seizures are physically burdensome and emotionally distressing for patients, families, caregivers, and clinicians. Patients with neurological diseases are at increased risk of having complex, difficult-to-control seizures at the end of life. Palliative care (PC) clinicians asked to provide management of these seizures may not be familiar or comfortable with more complex seizures or epilepsy. A team of neurologists and PC specialists have compiled a list of tips to guide clinicians on how to care for patients having seizures and to support their families/caregivers.
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Background: There are substantial disparities in distribution of palliative care (PC) services within Latin America, with Bolivia historically lagging behind neighboring countries in PC metrics. Comprehensive data on PC in Bolivia were last collected in 2012 through the Latin American Association for Palliative Care (ALCP) Atlas of PC. Objective: To update the 2012 data and describe the current state of PC in Bolivia to aid in their ongoing efforts to expand PC services. ⋯ Teams report significant barriers for their patients to obtain opioid pain medications. Conclusions: Bolivian PC teams utilize multidisciplinary teams and have the capability to treat many of the essential PC symptoms with guideline-recommended treatments. However, it is unclear whether availability of services translates to accessibility for most patients, especially given their geographic distribution and cost of services.
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Background: Specialty palliative care (PC) is underutilized for patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD); however, studies exploring patient and caregiver perceptions of PC are lacking. Objectives: To explore patient and caregiver knowledge, perceptions, and preferences about PC in ESLD management. Setting/Subjects: Individuals with ESLD and their informal caregivers were recruited from a large academic medical center in the United States. ⋯ Conclusions: Study participants reported limited knowledge of PC and often perceived it as hospice care. After receiving education on PC, nearly all participants, regardless of transplant eligibility, advocated for early introduction of PC in ESLD care. Interventions are needed to educate patients with ESLD and their caregivers on the potential role of PC to overcome misperceptions of PC and allow earlier integration of PC into ESLD management.
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Case Reports
Palliative Spine Surgery in a Patient with Advanced Cancer: A Case Report and Decision-Making Guide.
The spine is a frequent site of cancer metastasis leading to intractable pain, functional impairment, and poor quality of life. When analgesic regimens and nonpharmacological interventions fail, spine surgery may be indicated. For patients with advanced disease, the decision to operate can become a dilemma. ⋯ Shortly after surgery, he settled on a regimen merely equivalent to 45 mg of morphine per day. The article explores the role of palliative spine surgery in managing intractable cancer-related back pain. The authors offer a guide when considering surgical procedures for patients with limited prognosis.