Effects of high dose opioids and sedatives on survival in terminally ill cancer patients

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Caring for Filipino American and Korean American Patients

As of 2019, there are 4.2 million Filipino Americans (FAs) and 1.9 million Korean Americans (KAs) in the United States, largely concentrated in New York, California, Texas, Illinois, and Washington. In both populations, similar to the broader U.S. culture, one can find health literacy gaps around understanding and utilizing palliative care. In this article, we provide 10 cultural pearls to guide clinicians on how to sensitively approach FA and KA groups when addressing palliative and end-of-life (EOL) discussions. We fully celebrate that every person is an individual and care should be tailored to each person's goals, values, and preference. In addition, there are several cultural norms that, when appreciated and celebrated, may help clinicians to improve serious illness care and EOL discussions for members of these populations.

Survival Outcomes in Palliative Sedation Based on Referring Versus On-Call Physician Prescription

This study sought to determine the survival duration of patients who underwent palliative sedation, comparing those who received prescriptions from referring physicians versus on-call physicians. It included all patients over 18 years old who died in the Palliative Care, Internal Medicine, and Oncology units at the Hospital Universitario of Jerez de la Frontera between 1 January 2019, and 31 December 2019. Various factors were analyzed, including age, gender, oncological or non-oncological disease, type of primary tumor and refractory symptoms. Statistical analysis was employed to compare survival times between patients who received palliative sedation from referring physicians and those prescribed by on-call physicians, while accounting for other potential confounding variables. This study revealed that the median survival time after the initiation of palliative sedation was 25 h, with an interquartile range of 8 to 48 h. Notably, if the sedation was prescribed by referring physicians, the median survival time was 30 h, while it decreased to 17 h when prescribed by on-call physicians (RR 0.357; 95% CI 0.146-0.873; p = 0.024). Furthermore, dyspnea as a refractory symptom was associated with a shorter survival time (RR 0.307; 95% CI 0.095-0.985; p = 0.047). The findings suggest that the on-call physician often administered palliative sedation to rapidly deteriorating patients, particularly those experiencing dyspnea, which likely contributed to the shorter survival time following sedation initiation. This study underscores the importance of careful patient selection and prompt initiation of palliative sedation to alleviate suffering.

Are Opioid Infusions Used Inappropriately at End of Life? Results From a Quality/Safety Project

CONTEXT

Opioid continuous infusions are commonly used for end-of-life (EOL) symptoms in hospital settings. However, prescribing practices vary, and even the recent literature contains conflicting protocols and guidelines for best practice.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the prevalence of potentially inappropriate opioid infusion use for EOL comfort care at an academic medical center, and determine if inappropriate use is associated with distress.

METHODS

Through literature review and iterative interdisciplinary discussion, we defined three criteria for "potentially inappropriate" infusion use. We conducted a retrospective, observational study of inpatients who died over six months, abstracting demographics, opioid use patterns, survival time, palliative care (PC) involvement, and evidence of patient/caregiver/staff distress from the electronic medical record.

RESULTS

We identified 193 decedents who received opioid infusions for EOL comfort care. Forty-four percent received opioid infusions that were classified as "potentially inappropriate." Insufficient use of as-needed intravenous opioid boluses and use of opioid infusions in opioid-naïve patients were the most common problems observed. Potentially inappropriate infusions were associated with more frequent patient (24% vs. 2%; P < 0.001) and staff distress (10% vs. 2%; P = 0.02) and were less common when PC provided medication recommendations (20% vs. 50%; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Potentially inappropriate opioid infusions are prevalent at our hospital, an academic medical center with an active PC team and existing contracts for in-hospital hospice care. Furthermore, potentially inappropriate opioid infusions are associated with increased patient and staff distress. We are developing an interdisciplinary intervention to address this safety issue.

COVID-19, Suffering and Palliative Care: A Review

According to the WHO guideline, palliative care is an integral component of COVID-19 management. The relief of physical symptoms and the provision of psychosocial support should be practiced by all healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients. In this review, we aim to provide a simple outline on COVID-19, suffering in COVID-19, and the role of palliative care in COVID-19. We also introduce 3 principles of palliative care that can serve as a guide for all healthcare workers caring for COVID-19 patients, which are (1) good symptom control, (2) open and sensitive communication, and (3) caring for the whole team. The pandemic has brought immense suffering, fear and death to people everywhere. The knowledge, skills and experiences from palliative care could be used to relieve the suffering of COVID-19 patients.

Association between opioid dose escalation and time to death in a comfort measures only population

Purpose

Opioids are crucial to the relief of pain and dyspnea experienced by patients dying in the hospital setting; however, there are concerns about the association of opioid dosage with hastened death via opioid-induced respiratory depression, and there is little published evidence regarding the association between opioid dose escalation and time to death in the inpatient comfort measures only (CMO) population.

Methods

The medical records of adult patients admitted to 2 hospitals who had an active CMO order at the time of death and received opioid dose escalations after CMO pronouncement were assessed in a retrospective cohort study. Patients were categorized into higher and lower opioid dose escalation groups according to an institutional palliative care symptom guide. A Cox proportional hazards model was constructed to test the associations between dose escalation group, patient sex, opioid naivety, palliative care consultation, and opioid dosage after CMO pronouncement (independent variables) and time to death (dependent variable).

Results

In the 71-patient cohort, 39 patients (54.9%) were male and 32 (45.1%) were female. The mean (SD) age of patients was 67.2 (16.6) years. Higher dose escalation (n = 46, 64.8%) was associated with a nonsignificant decrease in survival time compared to lower dose escalation (n = 25, 35.2%), with a mean difference in time to death of 19.8 hours (hazard ratio [HR], 1.67; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.94-2.97). Receipt of a palliative care consult (n = 56, 78.9%) during the final hospital visit was associated with increased survival time (mean difference, 20.1 hours; HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.16-0.63).

Conclusion

Time to death in an inpatient CMO population was not significantly associated with the degree of opioid dose escalation.

General anaesthesia in end-of-life care: extending the indications for anaesthesia beyond surgery

In this article, we describe an extension of general anaesthesia – beyond facilitating surgery – to the relief of suffering during dying. Some refractory symptoms at the end of life (pain, delirium, distress, dyspnoea) might be managed by analgesia, but in high doses, adverse effects (e.g. respiratory depression) can hasten death. Sedation may be needed for agitation or distress and can be administered as continuous deep sedation (also referred to as terminal or palliative sedation) generally using benzodiazepines. However, for some patients these interventions are not enough, and others may express a clear desire to be completely unconscious as they die. We summarise the historical background of an established practice that we refer to as ‘general anaesthesia in end‐of‐life care’. We discuss its contexts and some ethical and legal issues that it raises, arguing that these are largely similar issues to those already raised by continuous deep sedation. To be a valid option, general anaesthesia in end‐of‐life care will require a clear multidisciplinary framework and consensus practice guidelines. We see these as an impending development for which the specialty should prepare. General anaesthesia in end‐of‐life care raises an important debate about the possible role of anaesthesia in the relief of suffering beyond the context of surgical/diagnostic interventions.

British laypeople's attitudes towards gradual sedation, sedation to unconsciousness and euthanasia at the end of life

BACKGROUND

Many patients at the end of life require analgesia to relieve pain. Additionally, up to 1/5 of patients in the UK receive sedation for refractory symptoms at the end of life. The use of sedation in end-of-life care (EOLC) remains controversial. While gradual sedation to alleviate intractable suffering is generally accepted, there is more opposition towards deliberate and rapid sedation to unconsciousness (so-called "terminal anaesthesia", TA). However, the general public's views about sedation in EOLC are not known. We sought to investigate the general public's views to inform policy and practice in the UK.

METHODS

We performed two anonymous online surveys of members of the UK public, sampled to be representative for key demographic characteristics (n = 509). Participants were given a scenario of a hypothetical terminally ill patient with one week of life left. We sought views on the acceptability of providing titrated analgesia, gradual sedation, terminal anaesthesia, and euthanasia. We asked participants about the intentions of doctors, what risks of sedation would be acceptable, and the equivalence of terminal anaesthesia and euthanasia.

FINDINGS

Of the 509 total participants, 84% and 72% indicated that it is permissible to offer titrated analgesia and gradual sedation (respectively); 75% believed it is ethical to offer TA. Eighty-eight percent of participants indicated that they would like to have the option of TA available in their EOLC (compared with 79% for euthanasia); 64% indicated that they would potentially wish for TA at the end of life (52% for euthanasia). Two-thirds indicated that doctors should be allowed to make a dying patient completely unconscious. More than 50% of participants believed that TA and euthanasia were non-equivalent; a third believed they were.

INTERPRETATION

These novel findings demonstrate substantial support from the UK general public for the use of sedation and TA in EOLC. More discussion is needed about the range of options that should be offered for dying patients.

Midazolam and hydroxymidazolam plasma concentrations can be monitored with selected biochemical and physiological parameters of palliative care patients

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Midazolam is one of top three drugs used in palliative care. Its use increases in the last days of hospice patients' lives while safe dosage can be challenging. Equations currently used to estimate glomerular filtration rate, e.g: the Cockroft-Gault (eGFR_CR) and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (eGFR_MDRD) ones, do not generate precise calculations, especially in palliative patients exhibiting variations in body parameters. Our aim was to seek new relationships between mean midazolam (M_avg) and alfahydroxymidazolam (OH-M_avg) concentrations in plasma, and selected biochemical and physiological parameters of palliative patients, to enable optimal midazolam pharmacotherapy.

STUDY DESIGN, PARTICIPANTS AND INTERVENTIONS

The pilot study included 11 Caucasians, aged 42-95, with advanced cancer disease, receiving midazolam in a hospice in-patient unit. We tested correlations among M_avg, BMI, eGFR_MDRD, midazolam clearance (CL), OH-M_avg, bilirubin (Bil) and blood creatinine concentration (Cr). F test and leave-one out (LOO) validation was applied to verify the correlations' significance and predictive ability.

RESULTS

We found ten statistically significant (p < 0.05) correlations related to midazolam pharmacokinetics and physiological factors. We formulated two equations with high degree of predictive ability, based on the eGFR_MDRD→CL and the (Bil + BMI × Ln(Cr))→M_avg-(OH-M_avg) correlations. The limitations of the study mainly revolve around its pilot nature and the need to continue testing the results on a bigger population. No funding to disclose.

CONCLUSIONS

The significance of correlations corresponding to the arithmetic expressions confirms that Bil, BMI, Ln(Cr) analyzed simultaneously report a series of processes on which midazolam metabolism depends. Two of ten correlations proposed came close to meet all LOO validation criteria. Current findings can help optimize midazolam treatment in palliative therapy.

Pain Management in Patients with Serious Illness

Managing pain in patients with serious illness can be complex. However, pain is often a prominent symptom in patients with malignant and nonmalignant serious illness and providers have to be adept at balancing effective pain management and safety. Clinicians should start with a standard pain assessment that lays important groundwork for developing a tailored multimodal approach to pain management. It is important to identify physical causes of pain and also existential causes. Opioids are not always appropriate but are still an important tool for managing pain. Basic opioid management and safe practices are essential when managing this population.

Opioids and Cancer Mortality

OPINION STATEMENT

Opioids are the gold standard for the treatment of cancer-related pain. Preclinical studies have associated opioids with cancer progression and overall survival. In mice models, opioids have been shown to possess pro-tumor activity secondary to immunosuppression, migration of tumor cells, increased activity of vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, and angiogenesis leading to tumor progression. In contrast, opioids have also been associated with having antitumor activity by activation of apoptosis and phagocytosis. However, high-quality randomized controlled trials in humans that are focused on the association between opioids and survival in cancer patients are lacking, which underscores the importance of being cautious when interpreting the results of the preclinical studies. Cancer-related pain is complex and multifactorial and may worsen as the disease progresses leading to higher opioid utilization. Moreover, cancer pain by itself has been associated with poor survival. The survival in these advanced cancer patients taking opioids may be more likely to be associated with cancer progression and not the opioid use. Adequate treatment of cancer pain has the potential to improve quality of life and performance status, highlighting the importance of continuing to use opioids to manage pain efficiently. More research is clearly needed.

The Association Between Benzodiazepines and Survival in Patients With Cancer: A Systematic Review

CONTEXT

Patients with cancer often experience distressing symptoms such as anxiety or dyspnea, which can be managed with benzodiazepines; however, concerns regarding the impact of these drugs on survival may dissuade prescribing and compliance.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to identify and appraise studies examining benzodiazepine use and survival in adults with cancer, to investigate the relationship and context of use.

METHODS

Systematic review of the international literature prepared according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews. Comprehensive searches of the MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, Cochrane Library, and AMED databases using medical subject heading and free-text search combinations with no date or language restrictions were undertook. Handsearching of references was conducted. Risk of bias of the included studies was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation criteria.

RESULTS

Two thousand two hundred fifty-seven unique records were identified, with 18 meeting inclusion criteria, representing 4117 patients. All studies were very low quality. No study found an increase in mortality in association with benzodiazepine use, whereas two demonstrated an increase.

CONCLUSION

Existing evidence shows no association between benzodiazepine use in patients with cancer and decreased survival. None of the studies evaluated the association between benzodiazepine use and survival in earlier stages of cancer, and the quality of studies retrieved signifies a need for further robust studies to draw more definitive conclusions. Further investigation in patients with cancer using well-designed, high-quality research with survival as a primary outcome should be conducted.

Do-not-resuscitate status is correlated with the prescribed use of systemic strong opioid analgesics in patients with terminal cancer: an observational study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to determine the possible correlation between the do-not-resuscitate (DNR) status and the prescribed use of systemic strong opioid analgesics (SSOA) among patients with terminal cancer in Taiwan.

METHODS

This retrospective cross-sectional study used data from a single tertiary care medical center. We identified patients with terminal cancer who died after signing a DNR order between 2008 and 2016. Subsequently, we reviewed their clinical characteristics, DNR consent type, survival time after DNR declaration, and SSOA dose.

RESULTS

Of the 4123 patients enrolled for this study, 1380 (33.5%) had received SSOA before DNR and 2742 (66.5%) had received SSOA after DNR (p < 0.001). SSOA doses administered after the DNR order were significantly higher than those administered before the DNR order (median, 78 vs. 60 mg, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Patients' DNR status likely influenced physician decision in prescribing SSOA. However, additional studies are necessary to clarify the factors that influence the decision-making of physicians regarding SSOA prescription.

Clinical Use of an Order Protocol for Distress in Pediatric Palliative Care

Several children receiving palliative care experience dyspnea and pain. An order protocol for distress (OPD) is available at Sainte-Justine Hospital, aimed at alleviating respiratory distress, pain and anxiety in pediatric palliative care patients. This study evaluates the clinical use of the OPD at Sainte-Justine Hospital, through a retrospective chart review of all patients for whom the OPD was prescribed between September 2009 and September 2012. Effectiveness of the OPD was assessed using chart documentation of the patient’s symptoms, or the modified Borg scale. Safety of the OPD was evaluated by measuring the time between administration of the first medication and the patient’s death, and clinical evolution of the patient as recorded in the chart. One hundred and four (104) patients were included in the study. The OPD was administered at least once to 78 (75%) patients. A total of 350 episodes of administration occurred, mainly for respiratory distress (89%). Relief was provided in 90% of cases. The interval between administration of the first protocol and death was 17 h; the interval was longer in children with cancer compared to other illnesses (p = 0.02). Data from this study support the effectiveness and safety of using an OPD for children receiving palliative care.

External validation of A Web-Based Prognostic Tool for Predicting Survival for Patients in Hospice Care

Prognostat is an interactive Web-based prognostic tool for estimating hospice patient survival based on a patient's Palliative Performance Scale (PPS) score, age, gender, and cancer status. The tool was developed using data from 5,893 palliative care patients, which was collected at the Victoria Hospice in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, beginning in 1994. This study externally validates Prognostat with a retrospective cohort of 590 hospice patients at LifePath Hospice and Palliative Care in Florida, USA. The criteria used to evaluate the prognostic performance were the Brier score, area under the receiver operating curve, discrimination slope, and Hosmer-Lemeshow good-ness-of-fit test. Though the Kaplan-Meier curves show each PPS level to be distinct and significantly different, the findings reveal low agreement between observed survival in our cohort of patients and survival predicted by the prognostic tool. Before developing a new prognostic model, researchers are encouraged to update survival estimates obtained using Prognostat with the information from their cohort of patients. If it is to be useful to patients and clinicians, Prognostat needs to explicitly report patient risk scores and estimates of baseline survival.

Association Between Opioid Use and Survival Time in Patients With Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer: 10 Years of Clinical Experience

OBJECTIVES

Patients with pancreatic cancer generally experience increasing pain as their disease progresses, making the titration of opioids difficult. This study aimed to determine a correlation between prescribed opioid doses and survival time in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

This retrospective observational cohort study in a tertiary care institution reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with unresectable pancreatic cancer and treated over a 10-year period.

RESULTS

We screened 1152 patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer, and 566 were eligible for inclusion in this study. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between initial opioid dose and survival time from initial opioid dose (correlation coefficient, -0.184; P < 0.01) and survival time from initial pancreatic cancer diagnosis (correlation coefficient, -0.177; P < 0.01). In addition, there were 0.8% and 0.6% increases in initial opioid dosage (morphine equivalent daily dose) and rate of increasing opioid dose (morphine equivalent daily dose per month), respectively, associated with the risk of early death (≤180 days, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Correlations between patient survival, initial opioid dose, final opioid dose, and the rate of increase of opioid dosage could provide useful information for clinicians treating unresectable pancreatic cancer patients.

Opioid Dose and Survival of Patients with Incurable Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Preclinical studies show that opioids promote angiogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis, resulting in shorter survival.

OBJECTIVE

To explore whether opioids are associated with the overall survival (OS) of patients with incurable nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

DESIGN

Prospective cohort study of patients with NSCLC.

SETTING

We investigated patients newly diagnosed with advanced or post-operative recurrent NSCLC between April 2013 and December 2015 at a single institute.

MEASUREMENTS

We evaluated OS, opioid requirements, opioid doses, pain levels, and prognostic factors of advanced NSCLC. The effects of variables on survival were analyzed using univariable and multivariable models. Patients were stratified according to oral morphine equivalents (OMEs)/day (<60 or ≥60 mg) to assess the association between opioid dose and OS.

RESULTS

We analyzed 150 patients, including 64 who received opioid treatment during follow-up. The median OS was 242 days in the opioid group and 627 days in the no-opioid group (log-rank p < 0.001). Multivariable models revealed that the opioid requirement was an independent predictor of shorter OS, after adjustment for prognostic variables, including sex, histology, stage, history of systemic chemotherapy, and performance status (hazard ratio 1.73, 95% confidence interval 1.137-2.631). There was no significant difference in OS between patients who received ≥60 mg OME/day for 250 days versus <60 OME/day for 242 days.

CONCLUSIONS

The opioid dose does not shorten the survival of patients with advanced NSCLC. The opioid requirement is associated with shorter survival when opioids are administered any time during the clinical course, independent of the influence of other key factors.

Cannabis in End-of-Life Care: Examining Attitudes and Practices of Palliative Care Providers

Medical cannabis research has become quite extensive, with indications ranging from glaucoma to chemotherapy-induced nausea. Despite increased interest in cannabis' potential medical uses, research barriers, cannabis legislation, stigma, and lack of dissemination of data contribute to low adoption for some medical populations. Of interest, cannabis use appears low in palliative care settings, with few guidelines available to palliative care providers. The present study sought to examine the attitudes, beliefs, and practices of palliative care providers regarding the use of cannabis for terminally ill patients. Palliative care providers (N = 426) completed a one-time online survey assessing these attitudes, beliefs, and practices. Results demonstrated that palliative care providers endorse cannabis for a wide range of palliative care symptoms, end-of-life care generally, and as an adjuvant medication. Nevertheless, the gap between these beliefs and actual recommendation or prescription appears vast. Many who support the use of cannabis in palliative care do not recommend it as a treatment. These data suggest recommendations for healthcare providers and palliative care organizations.

End-of-life decision-making across cancer types: results from a nationwide retrospective survey among treating physicians

BACKGROUND

The treatment of advanced cancer often involves potentially life-shortening end-of-life decisions (ELDs). This study aimed to examine the prevalence and characteristics of ELDs in different cancer types.

METHODS

A nationwide death certificate study was conducted based on a large random sample of all deaths in Flanders, Belgium, between 1 January and 30 June 2013. All cancer deaths were selected (n = 2392). Attending physicians were sent a questionnaire about ELDs and the preceding decision-making process.

RESULTS

The response rate was 58.3%. Across cancer types, a non-treatment decision occurred in 7.6-14.0%, intensified pain and symptom alleviation in 37.5-41.7%, euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide in 8.7-12.6%, and life shortening without explicit patient request in 1.0-2.4%. ELD prevalence did not differ significantly by cancer type. Reasons for ELDs were most frequently patient's physical suffering and lack of prospect of improvement. 'Anticipated further suffering' and 'unbearable situation for relatives' were reasons more often reported in haematological cancer than in other cancer types. Patient, family, and caregiver involvement in decision-making did not differ across cancer types.

CONCLUSIONS

Euthanasia or physician-assisted suicide rates were relatively high in all cancer types. Neither the prevalence of ELDs nor characteristics of the decision-making process differed substantially between cancer types. This indicates a uniform approach to end-of-life care, including palliative care, across oncological settings.

Symptom burden in heart failure: assessment, impact on outcomes, and management

Evidence-based management has improved long-term survival in patients with heart failure (HF). However, an unintended consequence of increased longevity is that patients with HF are exposed to a greater symptom burden over time. In addition to classic symptoms such as dyspnea and edema, patients with HF frequently suffer additional symptoms such as pain, depression, gastrointestinal distress, and fatigue. In addition to obvious effects on quality of life, untreated symptoms increase clinical events including emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and long-term mortality in a dose-dependent fashion. Symptom management in patients with HF consists of two key components: comprehensive symptom assessment and sufficient knowledge of available approaches to alleviate the symptoms. Successful treatment addresses not just the physical but also the emotional, social, and spiritual aspects of suffering. Despite a lack of formal experience during cardiovascular training, symptom management in HF can be learned and implemented effectively by cardiology providers. Co-management with palliative medicine specialists can add significant value across the spectrum and throughout the course of HF.

The Impact of Combined Use of Opioids, Antipsychotics, and Anxiolytics on Survival in the Hospice Setting

CONTEXT

Opioids and sedatives are the cornerstone of symptom management in the end-of-life patients, but undertreatment is a common problem. Although several studies explored the individual effect of opioids, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics on survival, not much is known regarding their combined use. As these drugs share similar and potentially fatal side effects, primarily respiratory depression which occurs more often during night-hours, it is crucial to explore whether their interaction poses a danger for fragile hospice patients.

OBJECTIVES

To analyze the relationship of a combination of opioids, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics on survival and the change of night-time death percentage.

METHODS

A retrospective study of 765 consecutive patients admitted to hospice in Croatia over the period of four years (2013-2017). The main outcome was the total length of survival of hospice patients regarding different drug combination, along with night-time death percentage.

RESULTS

Different combinations of opioids, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics were associated with longer survival in hospice compared with patients using no such drugs. When we included different parameters which affected overall survival into a multivariate analysis, only the patients who had the combination of both opioids, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics in their regular therapy were associated with longer survival in hospice (11 vs. five days, hazard ratio 0.54, P < 0.001). No combination of opioids, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics significantly changed the night-time death percentage.

CONCLUSION

This research supports the safety of opioids, anxiolytics, and antipsychotics in the hospice setting when used both individually as well as in combination.

Continuous Deep Sedation: A Proposal for Performing More Rigorous Empirical Research

Continuous deep sedation until death (CDS) is a type of palliative sedation therapy, and it has recently become a focus of intense debate. Marked inconsistencies in intervention procedures (i.e., what is CDS?) and unstandardized descriptions of patient backgrounds lead to difficulty in comparing the results in the literature. The primary aim of this article was to propose a conceptual framework to perform empirical studies on CDS. We propose the definition of CDS using the intervention protocol. As there are two types of CDS proposed in world-wide literature, we recommend to prepare two types of intervention protocol for CDS: "continuous deep sedation as a result of proportional sedation" (gradual CDS) and "continuous deep sedation to rapidly induce unconsciousness" (rapid CDS). In addition, we recommend that researchers characterize study patients' general condition using a validated prognostic tool, Prognosis in Palliative Care Study predictor model-A. Using this conceptual framework, we can compare the outcomes following the same exposures among homogenous patients throughout the world. This article proposes a provisional definition of two types of CDS. Defining CDS using the intervention protocol and describing patient backgrounds using validated prognostic tools enable comparisons and interpretations of empirical research about CDS. More empirical studies are urgently needed.

The association between different opioid doses and the survival of advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care

Background

Concerns that opioids may hasten death can be a cause of the physicians’ reluctance to prescribe opioids, leading to inadequate symptom palliation. Our aim was to find if there was an association between different opioid doses and the survival of the cancer patients that participated in our palliative care program.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted at Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok between January 2013 and December 2015. All of the cancer patients that were referred to palliative care teams by their primary physicians were included in the study. The study data included the patients’ demographics, disease status, comorbidities, functional status, type of services, cancer treatments, date of consultation, and the date of the patient’s death or last follow-up. The information concerning opioid use was collected by reviewing the medical records and this was converted to an oral morphine equivalent (OME), following a standard ratio. The time-varying covariate in the Cox regression analysis was applied in order to determine the association between different doses of opioids and patient survival.

Results

A total of 317 cancer patients were included in the study. The median (IQR) of the OME among our patients was 6.43 mg/day (0.53, 27.36). The univariate Cox regression analysis did not show any association between different opioid doses (OME ≤ 30 mg/day and > 30 mg/day) and the patients’ survival (p = 0.52). The PPS levels (p < 0.01), palliative care clinic visits (HR 0.32, 95%CI 0.24–0.43), home visits (HR 0.75, 95%CI 0.57–0.99), chemotherapy (HR 0.32, 95%CI 0.22–0.46), and radiotherapy (HR 0.53, 95%CI 0.36–0.78) were identified as factors that increased the probability of survival.

Conclusions

Our study has demonstrated that different opioid doses in advanced cancer patients are not associated with shortened survival period.

End-of-life care in patients with advanced lung cancer

Despite advances in the detection, pathological diagnosis and therapeutics of lung cancer, many patients still develop advanced, incurable and progressively fatal disease. As physicians, the duties to cure sometimes, relieve often and comfort always should be a constant reminder to us of the needs that must be met when caring for a patient with lung cancer. Four key areas of end-of-life care in advanced lung cancer begin with first recognizing 'when a patient is approaching the end of life'. The clinician should be able to recognize when the focus of care needs to shift from an aggressive life-sustaining approach to an approach that helps prepare and support a patient and family members through a period of progressive, inevitable decline. Once the needs are recognized, the second key area is appropriate communication, where the clinician should assist patients and family members in understanding where they are in the disease trajectory and what to expect. This involves developing rapport, breaking bad news, managing expectations and navigating care plans. Subsequently, the third key area is symptom management that focuses on the goals to first and foremost provide comfort and dignity. Symptoms that are common towards the end of life in lung cancer include pain, dyspnoea, delirium and respiratory secretions. Such symptoms need to be anticipated and addressed promptly with appropriate medications and explanations to the patient and family. Lastly, in order for physicians to provide quality end-of-life care, it is necessary to understand the ethical principles applied to end-of-life-care interventions. Misconceptions about euthanasia versus withholding or withdrawing life-sustaining treatments may lead to physician distress and inappropriate decision making.

[Determining factors in the sedation of geriatric and oncology patients treated at home]

INTRODUCTION

Sedation, used as a therapeutic measure in the field of Palliative Care, continues to present difficulties for many professionals in its management and indications. Is varied existing literature in this regard, often exclusive cancer patients. Our objective is to analyse the characteristics of patients attended by a Home Care Support Team who required sedation compared to non-sedated patients, for possible determining factors for its use that could help in decision-making.

METHOD

A prospective analytical study conducted in Barbastro (Huesca) from September 2007 to February 2011. The study population are patients referred to the Home Care Support Team of Barbastro.

MAIN VARIABLES

Age, sex, medical history, symptoms, previous and current Barthel, Karnofsky, primary caregiver, previous drugs, drugs after intervention, sedation yes/no.

RESULTS

Required sedation 16.6% (n=106) of the cases (N=638). Sedated patients were younger, with no differences in sex, and the large majority (83%) were oncology patients. The presence of metastases showed no differences in need for sedation. Sedated patients have an increased functional impairment, determined by Barthel index decreased and a worse Karnofsky. Sedated patients showed increased frequency of uncontrolled symptoms, except psychomotor agitation, a fact determined by the medications used pre- and post-intervention.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of neoplastic disease, marked with existence of functional decline, and uncontrolled clinical need for certain medications to control symptoms may determine the need for sedation at the end of the process, above other factors such as patient comorbidity.

An Order Protocol for Respiratory Distress/Acute Pain Crisis in Pediatric Palliative Care Patients: Medical and Nursing Staff Perceptions

BACKGROUND

An order protocol for distress (OPD), including respiratory distress and acute pain crisis, has been established for pediatric palliative care patients at Sainte-Justine Hospital (SJH). After discussion with the patient/his or her family, the OPD is prescribed by the attending physician whenever judged appropriate. The OPD can then be initiated by the bedside nurse when necessary; the physician is notified after the first dose is administered.

OBJECTIVES

The study objectives were to evaluate the perceptions and experience of the medical/nursing staff towards the use of the OPD.

METHODS

A survey was distributed to all physicians/nurses working on wards with pediatric palliative care patients. Answers to the survey were anonymous, done on a voluntary basis, and after consent of the participant.

RESULTS

Surveys (258/548) were answered corresponding to a response rate of 47%. According to the respondents, the most important motivations in using the OPD were the desire to relieve patient's distress and the speed of relief of distress by the OPD; the most important obstacles were going against the patient's/his or her family's wishes and fear of hastening death. The respondents reported that the OPD was frequently (56%) or always (36%) effective in relieving the patient's distress. The respondents felt sometimes (16%), frequently (34%), or always (41%) comfortable in giving the OPD. They thought the OPD could never (12%), rarely (32%), sometimes (46%), frequently (8%), or always (1%) hasten death. Physicians were less favorable than nurses with the autonomy of bedside nurses to initiate the OPD before notifying the physician (p = 0.04). Overall, 95% of respondents considered that they would use the OPD in the future.

CONCLUSIONS

Data from this survey shows that respondents are in favor of using the OPD at SJH and find it effective. Further training as well as support for health care professionals are mandatory in such palliative care settings.

Targeting cells of the myeloid lineage attenuates pain and disease progression in a prostate model of bone cancer

Tumor cells frequently metastasize to bone where they can generate cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP) that can be difficult to fully control using available therapies. Here, we explored whether PLX3397, a high-affinity small molecular antagonist that binds to and inhibits phosphorylation of colony-stimulating factor-1 receptor, the tyrosine-protein kinase c-Kit, and the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3, can reduce CIBP. These 3 targets all regulate the proliferation and function of a subset of the myeloid cells including macrophages, osteoclasts, and mast cells. Preliminary experiments show that PLX3397 attenuated inflammatory pain after formalin injection into the hind paw of the rat. As there is an inflammatory component in CIBP, involving macrophages and osteoclasts, the effect of PLX3397 was explored in a prostate model of CIBP where skeletal pain, cancer cell proliferation, tumor metastasis, and bone remodeling could be monitored in the same animal. Administration of PLX3397 was initiated on day 14 after prostate cancer cell injection when the tumor was well established, and tumor-induced bone remodeling was first evident. Over the next 6 weeks, sustained administration of PLX3397 attenuated CIBP behaviors by approximately 50% and was equally efficacious in reducing tumor cell growth, formation of new tumor colonies in bone, and pathological tumor-induced bone remodeling. Developing a better understanding of potential effects that analgesic therapies have on the tumor itself may allow the development of therapies that not only better control the pain but also positively impact disease progression and overall survival in patients with bone cancer.

Dexmedetomidine for Sedation during Withdrawal of Support

Agents used to control end-of-life suffering are associated with troublesome side effects. The use of dexmedetomidine for sedation during withdrawal of support in pediatrics is not yet described. An adolescent female with progressive and irreversible pulmonary deterioration was admitted. Despite weeks of therapy, she did not tolerate weaning of supplemental oxygen or continuous bilevel positive airway pressure. Given her condition and the perception that she was suffering, the family requested withdrawal of support. Despite opioids and benzodiazepines, she appeared to be uncomfortable after support was withdrawn. Ketamine was initiated. Relief from ketamine was brief, and its use was associated with a "wide-eyed" look that was distressing to the family. Ketamine was discontinued and a dexmedetomidine infusion was initiated. The patient's level of comfort improved greatly. The child died peacefully 24 hours after initiating dexmedetomidine from her underlying disease rather than the effects of the sedative.

Pediatric Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit

The chronicity of illness that afflicts children in Pediatric Palliative Care and the medical technology that has improved their lifespan and quality of life make prognostication extremely difficult. The uncertainty of prognostication and the available medical technologies make both the neonatal intensive care unit and the pediatric intensive care unit locations where many children will receive Pediatric Palliative Care. Health care providers in the neonatal intensive care unit and pediatric intensive care unit should integrate fundamental Pediatric Palliative Care principles into their everyday practice.

Palliative sedation, foregoing life-sustaining treatment, and aid-in-dying: what is the difference?

After a review of terminology, I identify-in addition to Margaret Battin's list of five primary arguments for and against aid-in-dying-the argument from functional equivalence as another primary argument. I introduce a novel way to approach this argument based on Bernard Lonergan's generalized empirical method (GEM). Then I proceed on the basis of GEM to distinguish palliative sedation, palliative sedation to unconsciousness when prognosis is less than two weeks, and foregoing life-sustaining treatment from aid-in-dying. I conclude (1) that aid-in-dying must be justified on its own merits and not on the basis of these well-established palliative care practices; and (2) that societies must decide, in weighing the merits of aid-in-dying, whether or not to make the judgment that no life is better than life-like-this (however this is specified) part of their operative value structure.

Medication use during end-of-life care in a palliative care centre

Background In end-of-life care, symptoms of discomfort are mainly managed by drug therapy, the guidelines for which are mainly based on expert opinions. A few papers have inventoried drug prescriptions in palliative care settings, but none has reported the frequency of use in combination with doses and route of administration. Objective To describe doses and routes of administration of the most frequently used drugs at admission and at day of death. Setting Palliative care centre in the Netherlands. Method In this retrospective cohort study, prescription data of deceased patients were extracted from the electronic medical records. Main outcome measure Doses, frequency and route of administration of prescribed drugs Results All regular medication prescriptions of 208 patients, 89 % of whom had advanced cancer, were reviewed. The three most prescribed drugs were morphine, midazolam and haloperidol, to 21, 11 and 23 % of patients at admission, respectively. At the day of death these percentages had increased to 87, 58 and 50 %, respectively. Doses of these three drugs at the day of death were statistically significantly higher than at admission. The oral route of administration was used in 89 % of patients at admission versus subcutaneous in 94 % at the day of death. Conclusions Nearing the end of life, patients in this palliative care centre receive discomfort-relieving drugs mainly via the subcutaneous route. However, most of these drugs are unlicensed for this specific application and guidelines are based on low level of evidence. Thus, there is every reason for more clinical research on drug use in palliative care.

Palliative sedation for terminally ill cancer patients in a tertiary cancer center in Shanghai, China

Background

There are a number of studies dedicated to characteristics of sedation, but these studies are mostly bound to western country practices. The aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of patients who suffered from cancer and who had been sedated until their death in Shanghai, China.

Methods

Retrospective medical data of 244 terminally ill cancer patients including 82 sedated patients were collected. Data collected included demographic characteristics, disease-related characteristics and details of the sedation.

Results

In sedated cases, patients and/or caregivers gave the consent to start palliative sedation due to unmanageable symptoms. On average, sedation was performed 24.65(±1.78)hours before death. Agitated delirium and dyspnea were the most frequent indications for palliative sedation. There was no significant difference in survival time from admission till death between sedated and non-sedated patients (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Palliative sedation is effective for reducing terminally ill cancer patients’ suffering without hastening death. Prospective research is needed to determine the optimal conditions for Chinese patients including indications, decision making process, informed consent, cultural and ethical issues, type of sedation and drugs.

Opioids have no negative effect on the survival time of patients with advanced lung cancer in an acute care hospital

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not opioid administration influenced the survival time of patients with advanced lung cancer in an acute care hospital setting.

METHODS

This was a single institutional and retrospective study. We reviewed patients with advanced lung cancer who had died from January 2008 to December 2013 at the Osaka Police Hospital. We compared survival times, calculated from the time of the last hospitalization or the last chemotherapy, between patients who had not used any opioids, those who had used a low dose of opioids (< 60 mg/day), and those who had used a higher dose of opioids (≥ 60 mg/day).

RESULTS

A total of 369 patients, of which 284 had received chemotherapy, were analyzed. Opioid users were generally younger than nonusers. There was no significant difference in survival time after the last hospitalization in terms of opioid dose at the last admission and mean daily opioid dose; there was also no significant difference in survival time after the last chemotherapy in terms of the mean daily opioid dose and the opioid dose at death. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis regarding survival time after the last hospitalization or the last chemotherapy did not reveal any opioid-related variables as a significant predictive factor.

CONCLUSIONS

Opioids were found to have no negative influence on survival time even in an acute care hospital.

Descriptive study of prescriptions for opioids from a suburban academic emergency department before New York's I-STOP Act

INTRODUCTION

Controlled prescription opioid use is perceived as a national problem attributed to all specialties. Our objective was to provide a descriptive analysis of prescriptions written for controlled opioids from a database of emergency department (ED) visits prior to the enactment of the I-STOP law, which requires New York prescribers to consult the Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) prior to prescribing Schedule II, III, and IV controlled substances for prescriptions of greater than five days duration.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective medical record review of patients 21 years of age and older, who presented to the ED between July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012 and were given a prescription for a controlled opioid. Our primary purpose was to characterize each prescription as to the type of controlled substance, the quantity dispensed, and the duration of the prescription. We also looked at outliers, those patients who received prescriptions for longer than five days.

RESULTS

A total of 9,502 prescriptions were written for opioids out of a total 63,143 prescriptions for 69,500 adult patients. Twenty-six (0.27%) of the prescriptions for controlled opioids were written for greater than five days. Most prescriptions were for five days or less (99.7%, 95% CI [99.6 to 99.8%]).

CONCLUSION

The vast majority of opioid prescriptions in our ED prior to the I-STOP legislature were limited to a five-day or less supply. These new regulations were meant to reduce the ED's contribution to the rise of opioid related morbidity. This study suggests that the emergency physicians' usual prescribing practices were negligibly limited by the new restrictive regulations. The ED may not be primarily contributing to the increase in opioid-related overdoses and death. The effect of the I-STOP regulation on future prescribing patterns in the ED remains to be determined.

Characteristics of Belgian "life-ending acts without explicit patient request": a large-scale death certificate survey revisited

BACKGROUND

"Life-ending acts without explicit patient request," as identified in robust international studies, are central in current debates on physician-assisted dying. Despite their contentiousness, little attention has been paid to their actual characteristics and to what extent they truly represent nonvoluntary termination of life.

METHODS

We analyzed the 66 cases of life-ending acts without explicit patient request identified in a large-scale survey of physicians certifying a representative sample of deaths (n = 6927) in Flanders, Belgium, in 2007. The characteristics we studied included physicians' labelling of the act, treatment course and doses used, and patient involvement in the decision.

RESULTS

In most cases (87.9%), physicians labelled their acts in terms of symptom treatment rather than in terms of ending life. By comparing drug combinations and doses of opioids used, we found that the life-ending acts were similar to intensified pain and symptom treatment and were distinct from euthanasia. In 45 cases, there was at least 1 characteristic inconsistent with the common understanding of the practice: either patients had previously expressed a wish for ending life (16/66, 24.4%), physicians reported that the administered doses had not been higher than necessary to relieve suffering (22/66, 33.3%), or both (7/66, 10.6%).

INTERPRETATION

Most of the cases we studied did not fit the label of "nonvoluntary life-ending" for at least 1 of the following reasons: the drugs were administered with a focus on symptom control; a hastened death was highly unlikely; or the act was taken in accordance with the patient's previously expressed wishes. Thus, we recommend a more nuanced view of life-ending acts without explicit patient request in the debate on physician-assisted dying.

A systematic review of the influence of opioids on advanced cancer patient survival

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Many health professionals still believe that opioids shorten the lifespan of patients. This situation implies that the ethical doctrine of double effect is often invoked to justify their use in extreme circumstances. The objective of this study is to revise the evidence existing in the recently published literature regarding the effect on patient survival of opioid used to control disease symptoms.

RECENT FINDINGS

A review of the scientific literature regarding the effects of opioids on symptom control and survival does not provide any evidence that there is an association between these two variables.

SUMMARY

The studies revised have not shown that the use of opioids for symptom control in advanced disease stages or in the last days of life has any effect on patient survival. Similarly, survival was not influenced by either the use of higher or lower doses of opioids, or by the practice of administering a double dose at night.

Estimating the potential life-shortening effect of continuous sedation until death: a comparison between two approaches

CONTEXT

In some cases, physicians estimate that continuous sedation until death may have a life shortening effect. The accuracy of these estimations can be questioned.

AIM

The aim of this study is to compare two approaches to estimate the potential life-shortening effect of continuous sedation until death.

METHODS

In 2008, 370 Dutch physicians filled out a questionnaire and reported on their last patient who received continuous sedation until death. The potential life-shortening effect of continuous sedation was estimated through a direct approach (question: Did continuous sedation, according to your estimation,hasten the patient's death? If yes: by how much time?)and an indirect approach (estimated life expectancy minus duration of sedation). The intrarater agreement between both approaches was determined with a weighted κ.

RESULTS

According to the direct approach, sedation might have had a life-shortening effect in 51% of the cases and according to the indirect approach in 84%.The intrarater agreement between both approaches was fair (weighted κ=0.38). In 10% of all cases, the direct approach yielded higher estimates of the extent to which life had been shortened; in 58% of the cases, the indirect approach yielded higher estimates.

CONCLUSIONS

The results show a discrepancy between different approaches to estimate the potential life shortening effect of continuous sedation until death.

Is there any association between where patients spend the end of life and survival after anticancer treatment for gynecologic malignancy?

BACKGROUND

It remains unknown whether the end-of-life (EOL) environment influences survival after anticancer treatment, particularly for gynecologic malignancy.

OBJECTIVE

The study's objective was to clarify whether the survival time varied depending on where patients spend the EOL.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who received initial oncologic treatment but died due to cancer recurrence and/or progression. The subjects were a cohort of 181 gynecologic malignant tumor cases in a single institution from 2002 to 2008. Measurement was of postcancer treatment survival (PCS), defined as the time interval between the last date of anticancer treatment after recurrence/progression and death from the disease, analyzed on stratification by type of supportive care or where patients spent the EOL.

RESULTS

The median survival time was 26.1 (1.0-306.4) months. The distribution of the carcinoma type was as follows: 28.7% of patients with cervical (N=52), 27.6% with endometrial (N=50), and 43.1% with ovarian (N=79) cancer. The median PCS was 13.3 weeks. Patients in the hospice/home care group showed a significantly more favorable PCS than those in the hospital group (log rank: P=0.029). On multivariate analysis, the age (<60 versus ≥60) and site of supportive care (hospital versus hospice/home care) retained their significance as independent prognostic factors of poor PCS (age: HR=0.679, 95% CI, 0.496-0.928, P=0.0151; site of supportive care: HR=0.704, 95% CI, 0.511-0.970, P=0.0319).

CONCLUSIONS

Our current data could be hypothesis generating; it is possible that the EOL environment is a crucial prognostic factor for survival after anticancer treatment.

Should assisted dying be legalised?

When an individual facing intractable pain is given an estimate of a few months to live, does hastening death become a viable and legitimate alternative for willing patients? Has the time come for physicians to do away with the traditional notion of healthcare as maintaining or improving physical and mental health, and instead accept their own limitations by facilitating death when requested? The Universities of Oxford and Cambridge held the 2013 Varsity Medical Debate on the motion "This House Would Legalise Assisted Dying". This article summarises the key arguments developed over the course of the debate. We will explore how assisted dying can affect both the patient and doctor; the nature of consent and limits of autonomy; the effects on society; the viability of a proposed model; and, perhaps most importantly, the potential need for the practice within our current medico-legal framework.