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Rodrigues-Ribeiro JL, Castro L, Pinto-Ribeiro F, Nunes R. Impact of palliative care at end-of-life Covid-19 patients - a small-scale pioneering experience. BMC Palliat Care 2024; 23:37. [PMID: 38336652 PMCID: PMC10858566 DOI: 10.1186/s12904-024-01368-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In March 2020, the outbreak caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus was declared a pandemic, resulting in numerous fatalities worldwide. To effectively combat the virus, it would be beneficial to involve professionals who specialize in symptom control for advanced illnesses, working closely with other specialties throughout the illness process. This approach can help manage a range of symptoms, from mild to severe and potentially life-threatening. No studies have been conducted in Portugal to analyse the intervention of Palliative Medicine at the end of life of Covid-19 patients and how it differs from other specialties. This knowledge could help determine the importance of including it in the care of people with advanced Covid-19. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to examine potential differences in the care provided to patients with Covid-19 during their Last Hours and Days of Life (LHDOL) between those who received care from Palliative Medicine doctors and those who did not. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study spanning three months (Dec 2020 to Feb 2021), the duration of the Support Unit especially created to deal with Covid-19 patients. The database included clinical files from 181 patients admitted to the Support Unit, 27 of which died from Covid-19. RESULTS Statistically significant differences were identified in the care provided. Specifically, fewer drugs were administered at the time of death, including drugs for dyspnoea, pain and agitation, suspension of futile devices and use of palliative sedation to control refractory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS End-of-life care and symptomatic control differ when there's regular follow-up by Palliative Medicine, which may translate less symptomatic suffering and promote a dignified and humane end of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Luís Rodrigues-Ribeiro
- Palliative Care Unit, WeCare Saúde, Rua Corregedor Gaspar Cardoso, 480, Póvoa de Varzim, Porto, 4490-492, Portugal.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal.
- Intra-Hospital Team for Palliative Care Support, Hospital de Braga, ULS Braga, Braga, Portugal.
| | - Luísa Castro
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal
- Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal
| | - Filipa Pinto-Ribeiro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, 4710-057, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Guimarães, 4806-909, Portugal
| | - Rui Nunes
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, 4200-319, Portugal
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Fernando GVMC, Nair SN. A Typical Perplexing Life-sustaining Therapy Decision at the End of life: A Case Report from Sri Lanka with Attributes Potentially worth Adopting from the UK Legislature. Indian J Palliat Care 2021; 27:345-348. [PMID: 34511806 PMCID: PMC8428901 DOI: 10.25259/ijpc_354_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In many developing parts of the world, evidence on advance care planning (ACP) is either lacking or fragmented. Lack of streamlined means for ACP is known to lead to inconveniences for the clinicians as well as the patients and their families. This case report focuses on a young male diagnosed with metastatic osteosarcoma, who explicitly verbalised his wishes to be managed conservatively without involving invasive life-sustaining measures. However, the patient faced cardiopulmonary resuscitation before his demise against his wishes, which also contradicted with the medical point of view. Sri Lankan doctors face moral, ethical and legal dilemmas as they deal with terminally ill patients at the verge of their death due to the deficiencies in the medical and legislative frameworks in the country.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunasekara Vidana Mestrige Chamath Fernando
- Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Colombo, Sri Lanka.,National Centre for Primary Care and Allergy Research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka
| | - Shoba Narayanan Nair
- Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, India
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Piedade MAO, Cardoso Filho CA, Priolli DG. Prevalence of palliative sedation in the State of São Paulo: an emerging medical demand. EINSTEIN-SAO PAULO 2020; 18:eAO5395. [PMID: 32935826 PMCID: PMC7480494 DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2020ao5395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To investigate the prevalence of palliative sedation use and related factors. Methods An observational study based on data collected via electronic questionnaire comprising 23 close-ended questions and sent to physicians living and working in the state of São Paulo. Demographic data, prevalence and frequency of palliative sedation use, participant’s familiarity with the practice and related motivating factors were analyzed. In order to minimize memory bias, questions addressing use frequency and motivating factors were limited to the last year prior to survey completion date. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize data. Results In total, 20,168 e-mails were sent and 324 valid answers obtained, resulting in 2% adherence. The overall prevalence of palliative sedation use over the course of professional practice was 68%. However, only 48% of respondents reported having used palliative sedation during the last year, primarily to relieve pain (35%). The frequency of use ranged from one to six times (66%) during the study period and the main reason for not using was the lack of eligible patients (64%). Approximately 83% of physicians felt comfortable using palliative sedation but only 26% reported having specific academic training in this field. Conclusion The prevalence of palliative sedation use is high, the primary indication being pain relief. However, frequency of use is low due to lack of eligible patients.
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Kim YS, Song HN, Ahn JS, Koh SJ, Ji JH, Hwang IG, Yun J, Kwon JH, Kang JH. Sedation for terminally ill cancer patients: A multicenter retrospective cohort study in South Korea. Medicine (Baltimore) 2019; 98:e14278. [PMID: 30702591 PMCID: PMC6380862 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000014278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Sedation therapy is a potential solution to providing relief from refractory symptoms at end of life. The aim of this study was to investigate actual sedation practice and physician characteristics associated with the use of sedation for terminally ill cancer patients in South Korea.A retrospective review was conducted on consecutive patients who had died from cancer at seven tertiary medical centers between January 2010 and October 2015. The use of sedation was defined as the administration of sedative agents to relieve intolerable symptoms within the last 2 weeks preceding death. Patients and physician characteristics and information on the use of sedation were collected.A total of 8309 patients were included in the study. Sedatives were administered in 1334 patients (16.1%) for the following indications: delirium in 39.3%, intractable pain in 23.1%, and dyspnea in 21.9%. Median duration of sedation from initiation to death was 3 days. The use of sedation depended on physician specialty and experience. Family physicians used sedation most often (57.6%), followed by medical oncologists (13.9%), other internists (10.7%), and surgical oncologists (9.4%). The use of sedation was highest for physicians with >5 to 10 years practice experience (22.1%) and lowest for those in practice for 5 years or less (10.2%). The proportion of patients receiving sedation also varied markedly across participating institutions (range, 7.0%-49.7%).This large cohort study provides insight into sedation practice for terminally ill cancer patients in South Korea. Our study shows that the use of sedation depends on physician background and institution. A nation-wide guidelines and continued education on end-of-life sedation are required in South Korea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Saing Kim
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Gil Medical Center, Gachon University College of Medicine, Incheon
| | - Haa-Na Song
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju
| | - Jin Seok Ahn
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul
| | - Su-Jin Koh
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Ulsan University Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Ulsan
| | - Jun Ho Ji
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Samsung Changwon Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Changwon
| | - In Gyu Hwang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chung-Ang University Hospital, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul
| | - Jina Yun
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Bucheon
| | - Jung Hye Kwon
- Division of Hemato-oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, Seoul
| | - Jung Hun Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gyeongsang National University Hospital, Jinju
- Institute of Health Science, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, South Korea
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The role of end-of-life palliative sedation: medical and ethical aspects – Review. BRAZILIAN JOURNAL OF ANESTHESIOLOGY (ENGLISH EDITION) 2019. [PMID: 29776669 PMCID: PMC9391748 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjane.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background and objective Palliative sedation is a medical procedure that has been used for more than 25 years to relieve refractory symptoms not responsive to any previous treatment in patients with no possibility of cure and near the end of life. Many uncertainties persist on the theme regarding definition, indications, decision making, most appropriate place to perform the procedure, most used drugs, need for monitoring, fluids and nutritional support, and possible ethical dilemmas. The objective of this review was to seek a probable consensus among the authors regarding these topics not yet fully defined. Method An exploratory search was made in secondary sources, from 1990 to 2016, regarding palliative sedation and its clinical and bioethical implications. Conclusions Palliative sedation is an alternative to alleviate end-of-life patient suffering due to refractory symptoms, particularly dyspnea and delirium, after all other treatment options have been exhausted. Decision making involves prior explanations, discussions and agreement of the team, patient, and/or family members. It can be performed in general hospital units, hospices and even at home. Midazolam is the most indicated drug, and neuroleptics may also be required in the presence of delirium. These patients’ monitoring is limited to comfort observation, relief of symptoms, and presence of adverse effects. There is no consensus on whether or not to suspend fluid and nutritional support, and the decision must be made with family members. From the bioethical standpoint, the great majority of authors are based on intention and proportionality to distinguish between palliative sedation, euthanasia, or assisted suicide.
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Menezes MS, Figueiredo MDGMDCDA. [The role of end-of-life palliative sedation: medical and ethical aspects - Review]. Rev Bras Anestesiol 2018; 69:72-77. [PMID: 29776669 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjan.2018.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/31/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Palliative sedation is a medical procedure that has been used for more than 25 years to relieve refractory symptoms not responsive to any previous treatment in patients with no possibility of cure and near the end of life. Many uncertainties persist on the theme regarding definition, indications, decision making, most appropriate place to perform the procedure, most used drugs, need for monitoring, fluids and nutritional support, and possible ethical dilemmas. The objective of this review was to seek a probable consensus among the authors regarding these topics not yet fully defined. METHOD An exploratory search was made in secondary sources, from 1990 to 2016, regarding palliative sedation and its clinical and bioethical implications. CONCLUSIONS Palliative sedation is an alternative to alleviate end-of-life patient suffering due to refractory symptoms, particularly dyspnea and delirium, after all other treatment options have been exhausted. Decision making involves prior explanations, discussions and agreement of the team, patient, and/or family members. It can be performed in general hospital units, hospices and even at home. Midazolam is the most indicated drug, and neuroleptics may also be required in the presence of delirium. These patients' monitoring is limited to comfort observation, relief of symptoms, and presence of adverse effects. There is no consensus on whether or not to suspend fluid and nutritional support, and the decision must be made with family members. From the bioethical standpoint, the great majority of authors are based on intention and proportionality to distinguish between palliative sedation, euthanasia, or assisted suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam S Menezes
- Universidade Federal de Santa Maria (UFSM), Santa Maria, RS, Brasil.
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Palliative sedation in advanced cancer patients hospitalized in a specialized palliative care unit. Support Care Cancer 2018; 26:3173-3180. [DOI: 10.1007/s00520-018-4164-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Sepúlveda-Sánchez JM, Morales-Asencio JM, Morales-Gil IM, Canca-Sánchez JC, Crespillo-García E, Timonet-Andreu EM. [The right to die with dignity in an acute-care hospital: a qualitative study]. ENFERMERIA CLINICA 2014; 24:211-8. [PMID: 24775466 DOI: 10.1016/j.enfcli.2014.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
AIM To examine the perceptions and beliefs of doctors and nurses, and the barriers and facilitators they must address as regards the right to die with dignity in an acute-care hospital, and to consider the applicability of the provisions of Law 2/2010 of 8 April in this respect. METHOD A qualitative descriptive study, based on the focus group technique, using discourse analysis of the views of doctors and nurses responsible for the health care of terminal cancer and non-cancer patients in an acute-care hospital. RESULTS The results obtained show that there are diverse obstacles to assure the rights of terminal patients, and to ensure the proper performance of their duties by healthcare professionals and institutions. The nature and impact of these difficulties depend on the characteristics of the patients and their families, the health workers involved, the organisation of health care, and cultural factors. CONCLUSIONS The study highlights the need to improve the process of communication with patients and their families, to facilitate shared decision making and to establish measures to clarify issues such as palliative sedation and treatment limitation. It is necessary to improve the applicability of the law on living wills and dignified death in non-cancer specialist areas. Further training is needed regarding ethical, spiritual and anthropological aspects of care in these situations.
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