BMJ supportive & palliative care
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BMJ Support Palliat Care · Dec 2020
Percutaneous cervical cordotomy for cancer-related pain: national data.
Percutaneous cervical cordotomy (PCC) is an interventional ablative procedure in the armamentarium for cancer pain treatment, but there is limited evidence to support its use. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness and safety of PCC. ⋯ PCC is an effective treatment for cancer pain; however, findings in this study suggest PCC referrals tended to be late in patients' disease trajectories. Further study into earlier treatment and seeking international consensus on PCC outcomes will further enhance opportunities to improve patient care.
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BMJ Support Palliat Care · Dec 2020
Symptom burden and clinical profile of COVID-19 deaths: a rapid systematic review and evidence summary.
The spread of pandemic COVID-19 has created unprecedented need for information. The pandemic is the cause of significant mortality and with this the need for rapidly disseminated information for palliative care professionals regarding the prevalence of symptoms, their intensity, their resistance or susceptibility to symptom control and the mode of death for patients.