PB2287: END OF LIFE TRANSFUSIONS IN PATIENTS WITH AN ONCOLOGICAL DIAGNOSIS

Abstract

Background: Cancer patients in terminal stages present symptoms related to anemia, other cytopenias and coagulopathies that deteriorate the quality of life. These symptoms can be multicausal and do not improve in most cases with a single medical intervention. Cancer patients in terminal stages present symptoms related to anemia, other cytopenias and coagulopathies that deteriorate the quality of life.1,2 These symptoms can be multicausal and do not improve in most cases with a single medical intervention. Aims: To describe the use of blood transfusions in the 6 months prior to death as a palliative measure, in patients with an oncological diagnosis in the city of Medellin during the period 2013-2018. Methods: Retrospective cohort, in patients with cancer diagnosis who received transfusions in the last 6 months of life, a non-probabilistic sampling of consecutive cases was performed. The analysis executed in SPSS, they were estimated; absolute and relative frequencies and median with interquartile ranges. Results: Out of 3,254 medical records of cancer patients, 151 were included, of which 78 (51.7%) were male, with a median age of 64 years (IQR 52-75). The time to oncological diagnosis had a median of 2 years (IQR 1 and 3). Of the patients included in the study, 62.3% (94) had outpatient management and 37.7% (57) were hospitalized. Palliative treatment with blood products was used in the study patients during the 6 months prior to their death, with a median of 261.5 cubic centimeters (cc) (IQR 242 - 293) of doses of blood products and a median of 1 unit (IQR 1-2) transfused per patient. Summary/Conclusion: The findings of this research allow to appreciate the current panorama in the institutions in which palliative care medical services are provided and the considerations taken into account when transfusing blood products to a patient at the end of life as a therapeutic measure in the context of a human being cared for by professionals specialized in palliative care.