Journal of palliative medicine
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Alleviation of symptoms associated with advanced illness and dying is a fundamental goal and core principle of palliative care. Little research exists regarding hospice programs' practices for prescribing, dispensing, and utilizing medication kits in the home for management of uncontrolled symptoms. ⋯ Hospice programs commonly utilize kits containing prescription medications for the purpose of managing uncontrolled symptoms in the home. There is considerable variation in kit contents and practice. Programs believe that kits diminish emergency department visits and hospitalizations. Research is needed to more fully describe and study the outcomes of these practices.
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End-of-life care (EOLC) discussions and decisions are common in pediatric oncology. Interracial differences have been identified in adult EOLC preferences, but the relation of race to EOLC in pediatric oncology has not been reported. We assessed whether race (white, black) was associated with the frequency of do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders, the number and timing of EOLC discussions, or the timing of EOLC decisions among patients treated at our institution who died. ⋯ When equal access to specialized pediatric cancer care is provided, race is not a significant factor in the presence or timing of a DNR order, enrollment in or timing of enrollment in hospice, or the number or timing of EOLC discussions before death.
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The aim of this study was to assess the effects of red blood cell transfusion, and the subsequent increase in hemoglobin values, on anemia-related symptoms in a cohort of patients with cancer with different survival times. A red blood cell transfusion was recommended to a consecutive sample of patients with hemoglobin levels of 8 +/- 0.5 g/dL. The number of units to be ordered was decided according the hemoglobin values with a mean target of increasing the hemoglobin values by approximately 2 g/dL. ⋯ Blood transfusion in patients with hemoglobin values of approximately 8 g/dL improved anemia-related symptoms on a short-term basis. This benefit is independent of the stage of disease and survival. However, the effects on dyspnea and fatigue tend to decrease within 15 days, despite the maintenance of hemoglobin values attained after transfusions, suggesting that other factors may play a role.
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Approximately 10% to 30% of patients with cancer have metastases to the spine that require treatment. Spinal metastases can cause acute and chronic pain, compression fractures, spinal instability, and neurologic deficits. Vertebral compression fractures can be a significant cause of pain and impaired function. ⋯ Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a mildly invasive treatment which involves the injection of cement, polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) into a diseased vertebral body. We report a patient who presented with a severely destructive lesion and compression fracture at T9 with severe pain and impaired mobility. Percutaneous vertebroplasty provided immediate pain relief and restored structural stability of the diseased vertebra.