Search results for "palliativ"
showing 10 items of 371 documents
Lymphoma occurring in patients over 90 years of age: characteristics, outcomes, and prognostic factors. A retrospective analysis of 234 cases from th…
2013
International audience; BACKGROUND: Lymphoma occurring in patients aged 90 or older is not uncommon, and its incidence is expected to increase over time. Management of these patients is difficult given their underlying fragility and the lack of information regarding this population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 234 patients diagnosed with lymphoma at the age of 90 years or older (90+) between 1990 and 2012 to describe their characteristics, management, outcomes and prognostic factors. RESULTS: The median age was 92 years; 88% were B-cell lymphomas consisting mainly in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The median overall survival (OS) was 7.2 months (range, 0-92 months) for…
Characteristics and care pathways of advanced cancer patients in a palliative-supportive care unit and an oncological ward.
2018
Abstract BACKGROUND: A supportive palliative care unit (SPCU) may have a positive impact on patients' care. The aim of this study was to compare the pattern of patients admitted to a specialized SPCU and to a traditional oncologic ward (OW) in a consecutive sample of advanced cancer patients. METHODS: Data on patients demographics, reasons for and kind of admission, care-giver, anticancer treatments, being on/off treatment or uncertain, origin setting, who proposed hospital admission, the use of opioids, and hospitalization were gathered. The same parameters were recorded at discharge. A follow-up was performed by phone 1 month after discharge. RESULTS: Two-hundred patients were surveyed. A…
High-dose furosemide and small-volume hypertonic saline solution infusion for the treatment of leg edema in advanced cancer patients.
2008
Peripheral edema is a common feature in populations with advanced cancer, although it is seldom recognized. Diuretics are commonly employed and may show some benefit, but there are insufficient clinical trial data to draw useful conclusions about their clinical use. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of high-dose furosemide and small-volume hypertonic saline solution infusion in reducing leg edema in patients with advanced cancer treated unsuccessfully with diuretics. A prospective study was performed in a consecutive sample of 24 patients admitted to a pain relief and palliative care unit over a period of 18 months. To be eligible to enter the t…
A New Self-Expanding Nitinol Stent (JoStent SelfX) for Palliation of Malignant Biliary Obstruction: a Pilot Study
2004
Background and Study Aims: The JoStent SelfX is a new biliary uncovered self-expanding nitinol stent. The main advantage of this stent in comparison with the gold standard Wallstent is the minimal shortening (< 10%) that occurs during stent deployment. A prospective feasibility study was conducted to evaluate the method of stent implantation and the stent's short-term efficacy. Patients and Methods: Between April 2001 and December 2002, the JoStent SelfX was implanted in 20 patients with inoperable malignant biliary obstructions, mainly caused by pancreatic cancer (12 of 20). All patients underwent sphincterotomy prior to stent insertion. After implantation, laboratory parameters for choles…
Permanent stenting in “unextractable” common bile duct stones in high risk patients. A prospective randomized study comparing two different stents
2007
BACKGROUND: Endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) and stone extraction is the treatment of choice for bile duct stones. Therefore, if ES and conventional stone extraction fail, further treatment is mandatory. Insertion of a biliary endoprosthesis is an effective option. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We treated 30 high-risk patients (17 women and 13 men, mean age 82 years) affected by difficult common bile duct stones. The patients were randomly assigned preoperatively using closed envelopes (blind randomization) into two groups to receive insertion of polyethylene or hydrophilic hydromer-coated polyurethane stent, respectively. Follow-up was achieved by contacting referring physicians and patient's relat…
Individualized Comprehensive Lifestyle Intervention in Patients Undergoing Chemotherapy with Curative or Palliative Intent: Who Participates?
2015
Objective Knowledge about determinants of participation in lifestyle interventions in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, particularly with palliative intent, remains poor. The objective of the present study was to identify determinants of participating in a 12 month individualized, comprehensive lifestyle intervention, focusing on diet, physical activity, mental stress and smoking cessation, in cancer patients receiving chemotherapy with curative or palliative intent. The secondary objective was to identify participation determinants 4 months into the study. Methods Newly diagnosed cancer patients starting chemotherapy at the cancer center in Kristiansand/Norway (during a 16 month inc…
Switching from oxycodone to methadone in advanced cancer patients
2012
The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the outcomes and the conversion ratio of switching from oxycodone to methadone in advanced cancer patients admitted to an acute palliative care unit.A prospective study was carried out on a cohort of consecutive sample of patients receiving oxycodone, who were switched for different reasons mainly because of an inconvenient balance between analgesia and adverse effects. An initial conversion ratio between oxycodone and methadone was 3.3:1. Intensity of pain and symptoms associated with opioid therapy were recorded, and a distress score (DS) was also calculated as a sum of symptom intensity. A successful switching was considered when the in…
Outcome of opioid switching 4 weeks after discharge from a palliative care unit.
2011
Despite the favorable effects reported with opioid switching performed in a specialized unit in the short term, data on long-term basis are poor, particularly after discharging patients home or in other settings.The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the long-term outcome of patients who were switched in an acute palliative care unit at a high volume of opioid switching. A consecutive sample of patients who underwent opioid substitution during admission in an acute palliative care unit were assessed for a period of 1 year. Patients were followed-up for 4 weeks after being discharged. Patients were contacted by phone or visited at the outpatient clinic 4 weeks after discharge. Epi…
The "aRIANNA" Project: An Observational Study on a Model of Early Identification of Patients with Palliative Care Needs through the Integration betwe…
2018
Objective: The aim of this study was to illustrate the characteristics of patients with palliative care (PC) needs, early identified by general practitioners (GPS), and to analyze their care process in home PC services. Background: Early identification and service integration are key components to providing quality palliative care (PC) services ensuring the best possible service for patients and their families. However, in Italy, PC is often provided only in the last phase of life and for oncological patients, with a fragmented service. Methods: Multicenter prospective observational study, lasting in total 18 months, implemented in a sample of Italian Home Palliative Care Units (HPCUs), enr…
FACTORS AFFECTING THE DIAGNOSTIC DELAY IN AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS
2012
Abstract Background Although amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a relentlessly progressive disorder, early diagnosis allows a prompt start with the specific drug riluzole and an accurate palliative care planning. ALS at onset may however mimic several disorders, some of them treatable ( e.g. , multifocal motor neuropathy) or epidemiologically more frequent ( e.g. , cervical myelopathy). Objective To study the delay from onset to diagnosis in a cohort of ALS patients and to the variables that may affect it. Methods We performed a retrospective analysis of the diagnostic delays in a cohort of 260 patients affected by ALS (M/F = 1.32) followed at our tertiary referral ALS Center between 20…