Search results for "acute palliative care unit"
showing 3 items of 3 documents
The use of opioids for breakthrough pain in acute palliative care unit by using doses proportional to opioid basal regimen.
2010
OBJECTIVES: To determine the efficacy and safety of different opioids used in doses proportional to the basal opioid regimen for the management of breakthrough pain (BP). METHODS: In 66 patients consecutive patients admitted to a pain relief and palliative care unit, the efficacy and safety of different opioids used in doses proportional to the basal opioid regimen for the management of breakthrough pain (BP) were assessed. The choice of the opioid to be administered as rescue medication was based on the characteristics of patients, clinical stability, compliance, preference, and so on. For each episode, nurses were instructed to routinely collect changes in pain intensity and emerging prob…
Frequency, indications, outcomes, and predictive factors of opioid switching in an acute palliative care unit.
2007
The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the frequency, indications, outcomes, and predictive factors associated with opioid switching, using a protocol that had been clinically applied and viewed as effective for many years. A prospective study was carried out on a cohort of consecutive cancer patients who were receiving opioids but had an unacceptable balance between analgesia and adverse effects, despite symptomatic treatment of side effects. The initial conversion ratio between opioids and routes was as follows (mg/day): oral morphine 100=intravenous morphine 33=transdermal fentanyl 1=intravenous fentanyl 1=oral methadone 20=intravenous methadone 16=oral oxycodone 70=transder…
The use of high doses of oxycodone in an acute palliative care unit.
2010
A retrospective study of patients who were prescribed controlled-release oxycodone (CRO) in a period of 3 years (2006-2008) was performed. A total of 212 patients were prescribed at discharge CRO for background analgesia; 129, 43, and 40 patients were prescribed doses of oxycodone of less than 120 mg/day (group L), 120 to 240 mg/day (group M), and more than 240 mg/day (group L), respectively. No differences in gender, primary diagnosis, and pain mechanisms were found, but doses were significantly lower in older patients (P < .0005). At discharge, adverse effects were mild and only a minority of patients were switched to other opioids. This study demonstrated that CRO administered in lar…