Articles: palliative-care.
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To investigate the current problems and needs of terminally ill cancer patients and their family members, and to discover their views of hospital, community, and support team services. ⋯ Palliative care needs to include both the patient and family because the needs of the family may exceed those of the patient. Support teams and some hospital and community doctors and nurses met the perceived needs of dying patients and families, but better education and organisation of services are needed.
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We report a case of epidural haematoma following a steroid injection into the cervical epidural space. The complication occurred on the seventh such injection over a 2 year period for chronic spinal pain. ⋯ The patient subsequently required skin grafting to the surgical site and two trans-urethral resections of the prostate gland during his 6 week hospital admission. He made a full recovery.
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Jul 1990
[Palliative therapy in cancer. 3. Palliation of the symptoms from a malignant tumor (1)].
Most of the symptoms from a malignant tumor are caused by local invasion by the tumor, or obstruction, either at the site of the primary disease or by metastases. However, tumors can produce symptoms at a remote site. Patients with gastrointestinal malignancy may present with symptoms which include dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, bleeding and ascites. ⋯ The aim of therapy is to evacuate the fluid and induce pleural adhesion. One of the sad situations that we have to face is the patient with recurrent cancer which complains of various symptoms. The relief of symptoms is the most important palliative therapy to them.
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A prospective study was carried out to assess the value of bronchoscopic cryotherapy for palliation of inoperable bronchial carcinoma with bronchial obstruction. Symptoms, lung function, and chest radiographic and bronchoscopic findings were recorded serially before and after 81 cryotherapy sessions in 33 consecutive patients. Most patients improved in terms of overall symptoms, stridor, and haemoptysis and they had an overall improvement in dyspnoea. ⋯ There were no important complications. These results compare favourably with the results in published series of patients having laser therapy. It is concluded that bronchoscopic cryotherapy is valuable for the palliation of inoperable bronchial carcinoma.