Abstract
OBJECTIVES: More than a third of children and adolescents who are followed by a palliative care unit (PCU) have a severe neurologic condition. The aim of this study is to review the indication of palliative care for patients with chronic debilitating neurologic conditions. METHODS: Databases literature review: PubMed, SciELO and LILACS, using the keywords combination for basic and advanced research. The following filters were applied: human beings, ages 0 through 18 years old, publication dated from the last 10 years, Portuguese, English or Spanish languages. RESULTS: After exclusion of papers that did not meet the study criteria, 24 articles were obtained on the matter. malnutrition is a major issue among patients with neurologic conditions, especially as a result of dysphagia. The use of enteral nutrition through feeding tubes is a valuable and underused measure to improve nutritional status. Excess orothraqueal secretions and dysphagia pose great risks to these patients, thus, procedures such as the laryngo-thraqueal separation can minimize those risks. Humor disorders must also be duly diagnosed and treated, as well as there should be a prompt discussion with caregivers about end of life care and grief. CONCLUSION: Palliative care indication should be encouraged more and more in pediatric neurology practice, as recommended, when faced upon the diagnosis of a potentially fatal condition or one that poses severe development impairment, aiming health quality improvements.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
