Deutsche medizinische Wochenschrift
-
Dtsch. Med. Wochenschr. · Sep 2007
Comparative Study[Symptomatic treatment of dyspnoea in patients receiving palliative care: nasal delivery of oxygen compared with opioid administration].
Dyspnoea frequently occurs in patients with advanced tumor disease receiving palliative care (prevalence > 50). Aim of the study was to assess, in dyspneic patients in palliative care, the efficacy of opioids in treating their dyspnoea and to determine whether or not nasal administration of oxygen previous to opioid administration would decrease the severity of dyspnoea. ⋯ During nasal oxygen administration the severity of dyspnoea, as measured by use of NRS had not decreased, whereas it had significantly decreased after the first opioid administration.