Journal of palliative medicine
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To evaluate a children's palliative care service designed specifically for a resource-poor sub-Saharan African setting. ⋯ The study suggests affordable, nurse-led, volunteer-supported children's palliative care services are both achievable and effective in sub-Saharan African. The study suggests that palliative care units should provide a specialized service focused on children. Such a service would clearly identify children in need of children's palliative care and should provide medication for symptom control; food and basic needs support; play and learning facilities; child protection; and systems for patient education, communication and follow up. Staff lack confidence and/or competence and this is a significant barrier to children's palliative care that should be addressed in Africa.
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Our objective was to determine if an oral ketamine swish and expectorate was a safe and effective method to alleviate mucositis pain. ⋯ Ketamine swish and expectorate may be a viable treatment option in refractory mucositis pain.
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There is growing interest in the interface between palliative care and other medical specialties, yet little is known about decision-making processes characterizing such collaborations. At the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), the trauma-burn surgery and neurosurgery services frequently request consults from the palliative care team for patients with a sudden advanced illness from catastrophic injuries or physiologic insult. ⋯ Through collaboration with the palliative care service at UAB, trauma-burn surgeons and neurosurgeons are better equipped to manage the multidimensional nature of suffering and provide a holistic approach to care for patients and families dealing with a sudden advanced illness.