Should Neuroleptics Be Used in Patients With Delirium Seen by Palliative Care?

Circadian rhythm in end-of-life delirium: a secondary analysis of two randomized controlled trials

CONTEXT

The circadian pattern of restlessness in end-of-life delirium is understudied and poorly understood.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the timing of breakthrough restlessness in patients with advanced cancer and end-of-life delirium admitted to an acute palliative care unit.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of two randomized clinical trials that examined the effect of lorazepam (MAD trial) and neuroleptics (CHAD trial) in end-of-life delirium. In this study we examined the frequency of restlessness in 8-hour intervals (7 am-3 pm, 3-11 pm, 11 pm-7 am). Breakthrough restlessness was measured based on (1) rescue medications (neuroleptics or benzodiazepines) administered for breakthrough restlessness and (2) a Richmond Agitation-Sedation Scale (RASS) score ≥+1 (collected every 2-4 hours).

RESULTS

This study included 128 patients (58 from MAD trial, 70 from CHAD trial); the mean age (SD) was 64 (12.5), and 57 (44.5%) were women. We found that 3-11 pm was significantly associated with greater rescue medication use in univariate analysis for both trials (MAD: Estimate: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.23-0.48, p<0.001; CHAD: Estimate: 0.1, 95% CI: 0.07-0.12, p<0.001). This association remained significant in multivariate analysis for CHAD (Estimate: 0.1, 95% CI: 0.07-0.12, p<0.001). 3 -11 pm was also associated with greater episodes of RASS ≥+1 in MAD in univariate and multivariate analysis (Estimate:0.31, 95 % CI: 0.21 - 0.42, p <0.001).

CONCLUSION

Delirious patients were more restless between 3 pm and 11 pm. This observation of "sundowning" may help clinicians to better anticipate this symptom, schedule monitoring and treatments, and educate patients and caregivers.

Use of Essential Medicines for Pain Relief and Palliative Care: A Global Consensus Process

CONTEXT

The WHO Model List of Essential Medicines includes 24 medications under the section Medicines for Pain and Palliative Care (EML). The Lancet Commission on Pain and Palliative Care developed the Lancet Essential Package (LEP), including 35 medications designed to alleviate serious health-related suffering worldwide.

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to provide recommendations on the appropriate use of essential of medicines in palliative care.

METHODS

The global palliative care community was invited to submit guidelines, of which 19/22 were selected. Data was extracted on initial dose, frequency, and maximum daily dose for medications in the LEP and in the WHO EML. For medications where guidance was not available or information differed, a 2-round Delphi process was conducted with 70 experts across regions and income levels. Consensus was set to ≥70% agreement.

RESULTS

Consensus in the guidelines was identified for 24 medications on three parameters. Open questions (mostly on maximum daily dose) were included in the Delphi. 63 experts from 49 countries responded (RR = 90%). No consensus was achieved for the maximum daily dose for nine medications. Significant disparities in medication availability were noted between high-income and low/middle-income countries.

CONCLUSION

We were able to partly achieve our goal, with limited evidence and a wide range of clinical practice described by the experts. This highlights an important gap in critical information which affects mostly the provision of palliative care at the primary care. Both limited availability and lack of training on the adequate use of essential medications may affect how clinicians manage symptoms, possibly relying on personal experience or trial and error, rather than evidence-based information.

Successful Management of Terminal Delirium With Transdermal Blonanserin Patch in a Terminally Ill Cancer Patient

Delirium is a distressing condition in terminally ill cancer patients, often treated with antipsychotics. Administering them orally, subcutaneously, or intravenously can be challenging in severely agitated patients. Transdermal antipsychotic patches offer an alternative, but their use for terminal delirium remains underexplored. We present the case of a 73-year-old man with advanced diffuse large B cell lymphoma who developed severe mixed delirium during third-line chemotherapy. Nonpharmacological interventions and oral risperidone plus intravenous haloperidol failed to improve his condition. Subsequently, a transdermal blonanserin patch was applied, resulting in the resolution of hallucinations on day 1 and agitation on day 3, allowing improved communication. The patch was easily applied daily without notable adverse events. However, he deteriorated a week later with an estimated survival of days, ultimately requiring continuous midazolam for refractory agitation. This case underscores the potential of transdermal blonanserin patches for delirium in terminally ill cancer patients, emphasizing the need for future prospective studies.

Pharmacologic Management of End-of-Life Delirium: Translating Evidence into Practice

End-of-life delirium affects a vast majority of patients before death. It is highly distressing and often associated with restlessness or agitation. Unlike delirium in other settings, it is considered irreversible, and non-pharmacologic measures may be less feasible. The objective of this review is to provide an in-depth discussion of the clinical trials on delirium in the palliative care setting, with a particular focus on studies investigating pharmacologic interventions for end-of-life delirium. To date, only six randomized trials have examined pharmacologic options in palliative care populations, and only two have focused on end-of-life delirium. These studies suggest that neuroleptics and benzodiazepines may be beneficial for the control of the terminal restlessness or agitation associated with end-of-life delirium. However, existing studies have significant methodologic limitations. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings and examine novel therapeutic options to manage this distressing syndrome.

Addressing the Unmet Needs of Patients With Rapidly Progressive Neurological Disease: A Case Report of Palliative Care in Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)

Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease (CJD) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder that typically progresses rapidly and unrelentingly. Providing comfort and support for patients with CJD presents significant challenges for clinicians and caregivers. In comparison to the more typical disease progression experienced in dementias, the trajectory of CJD differs significantly. This case report delves into these differences and emphasizes the need for the development of guidelines for healthcare professionals and families who care for individuals with CJD. Such guidelines would help facilitate better care and support for patients and their families throughout the course of this devastating illness.