Palliative Situation Research Articles

Preoperative Scoring and Limits of Prognostication: Functional Outcome after Surgical Decompression in Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression

Objective: To determine whether preoperative parameters correlate with the postoperative functional outcome in para- and tetraplegic patients with lung, kidney, breast and prostate cancer and metastatic spinal cord compression (MSCC). Methods: Information on 43 patients undergoing decompressive surgery and rehabilitation for MSCC was reviewed, including primary tumor, age, pre- and postoperative ambulation status, mobility subcategory of the Spinal Cord Injury Measure (mSCIM) and the Tokuhashi score. Differences between groups were analyzed by the nonparametric χ² test, and correlation coefficients (Spearman's rho) were computed. Results: Preoperative ambulation (p < 0.001), the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale (p < 0.001) and the type of operation (p = 0.02) influenced the postoperative functional outcome. Any positive change in the mSCIM was influenced by preoperative ambulation (p < 0.001). Patients with breast carcinoma showed significantly more positive changes in the mSCIM compared with other tumors (p = 0.002). No correlation was found between the treatment categories of the Tokuhashi score and the preoperative ambulatory status (p = 0.13) or the change in ambulation status (p = 0.29). Conclusion: The postoperative functional outcome of MSCC patients shows a linear association between the categories of the Tokuhashi score and the change in ambulation status. We recommend surgical decompression even in a palliative situation (Tokuhashi score 0-8) with the aim of optimizing the short-term rehabilitation outcome. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel

Smell and taste in palliative care: a systematic analysis of literature

Little is known on the role of the senses smell and taste in end-of-life care. The presented systematic literature analysis investigates the significance of smell and taste in palliative care. The online databases PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Deutsche Nationalbibliothek and British National Library were searched for English and German literature published between 1970 and April 2013 containing any kind of original data on the impact of smell and taste in patients in a palliative care situation. All retrieved publications were screened for relevance and full text was obtained for all articles identified as relevant. We integrated 13 papers for further analysis (explorative surveys 5, clinical trials 3, case studies 2, qualitative study 1, brief report 1, clinical report 1). Prevalence of smell and taste alterations in palliative care ranges between 60 and 86%. Existing literature reflects the significance of smells and tastes in palliative care setting in two main streams--smell and taste alterations as symptoms and malodorous wounds. Prevalence of smell and taste alterations in palliative care is high. However, in palliative care literature concepts for the assessment and fostering of subjective significance of smell and taste and the individual impact of significant smells and tastes are predominantly neglected. Available instruments should be characterized, validated and adapted for the use for palliative care patients.

Multimodale Therapie des Pankreaskarzinoms

Adenocarcinoma of the exocrine pancreas is one of the most aggressive types of solid tumor and stands at fourth position in the tumor death frequency scale due to a high mortality rate. Effective screening methods are not available and only radical surgery offers a curative option. With adjuvant chemotherapy the median survival time can be prolonged up to 23 months and approximately 25 % of patients are still alive after 5 years. Of these patients approximately 75-80 % are already in a palliative therapy situation at the time of diagnosis. In the last 5 years treatment options have been increased by the introduction of new chemotherapeutic drugs. For patients with metastasized disease median survival times of 6-12 months can currently be achieved depending on the general performance status at diagnosis but less than 5 % of these patients are still alive after 5 years. Neoadjuvant treatment strategies, radiation and immunotherapy do not play a role in evidence-based clinical practice. Despite progress in the understanding of cancer biology and new treatment options, non-resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas remains a disease with a very poor prognosis.

Strahlentherapeutische Konzepte beim CUP-Syndrom

The term cancer of unknown primary (CUP) encompasses a group of entities which differ to a great extent regarding etiology, prognosis and therapeutic management. The aim of the study was an elaboration of the role of radiotherapy in CUP syndrome. Systematic literature search and specification of the available treatment options. Radiotherapy is an integral part of interdisciplinary management approaches for patients with CUP in both curative and palliative situations. Radio-oncological techniques, such as intensity-modulated radiotherapy and stereotactic body radiotherapy increase the therapeutic window. Modern diagnostic modalities from radiology and nuclear medicine are the cornerstone of radiotherapeutic interventions, especially in terms of target volume definition and pretherapeutic staging. In the interdisciplinary setting radiation oncology offers the possibility of curative and often organ preserving approaches in patients with axillary and cervical CUP. In addition, improvement and preservation of quality of life can be achieved in patients with metastatic disease. Radiation oncology is a crucial component of the interdisciplinary management of patients with CUP. Therapeutic decisions in patients with CUP should be made in an interdisciplinary setting.

Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate Is Safe in Patients with Prostate Cancer and Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms—A Retrospective Feasibility Study

To evaluate the outcome of holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) in the known presence of prostate cancer (PCa) and concomitant lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS). We retrospectively identified 62 patients who underwent HoLEP for LUTS in the known presence of PCa at our center. Perioperative data were assessed including complications, functional outcomes, and quality of life (QoL). Giving respect to different disease characteristics, patients were stratified according to treatment strategy setting into palliative (I), radiation (II), and surveillance (III) groups and compared accordingly. Median follow-up (FU) of the entire study cohort was 27 months (range 2-65 mos). Medians of functional parameters (International Prostate Symptom Score): 18.5 vs 4.5, QoL: 4 vs 1, maximal flow rate: 9.0 vs 18.8 mL/s and residual urine: 100 vs 0 mL, all P<0.05) improved significantly in all groups. Perioperative complications were low and without any statistically significant difference between the groups. Postoperatively, voiding was successful in 90.3% of all patients; at last FU, 17% had some degree of urinary incontinence. Treatment strategy groups showed comparable functional outcomes after HoLEP. In the presence of PCa and LUTS, HoLEP represents a feasible, safe, and effective treatment option for patients unfit or without indication for radical prostatectomy. This applies as well in a palliative situation of advanced, obstructive PCa as for patients with LUTS who are scheduled for radiation therapy or surveillance in presumably indolent disease.

Freiwilliger Verzicht auf Nahrung und Flüssigkeit in der Palliative Care: ein Mapping Review

Voluntary Refusal of Food and Fluid (VRFF) is one possibility for patients in palliative situations to hasten death and avoid further suffering. By means of a mapping literature review this article describes the medical, nursing, ethical and legal perspective of care for people who wish to hasten death using VRFF. The results show that the wish to die is affected by psychological, social, spiritual and physical factors. VRFF is a little-known, legal and independently viable method to hasten death. Reducing fluid intake to 40 ml daily, the dying process takes one to three weeks. VRFF can be regarded as a natural death, foregoing treatment or as suicide. In contrast to physician assisted suicide or euthanasia, patients dying by VRFF experience a "natural" dying process and the decision is reversible in the first few days. As authority to act lies with the person wishing to die professionals and family caring for the dying are practicing palliative care, as opposed to assisted suicide or euthanasia. Professionals and family involved in the decision-making process are confronted with various ethical problems. Further research concerning VRFF and its implications for practice is necessary.

The Imperative to Address the Cost of Oncology Care

The Imperative to Address the Cost of Oncology Care

Endovascular therapy of acute tumour-related obstruction of the superior vena cava using a self-expanding Nitinol stent

Objective: To evaluate, in a retrospective study, the clinical efficacy and safety of the self-expanding Nitinol stent in the superior vena cava to alleviate upper venous congestion.Method: In 22 patients (15 men, 7 women), a tumour-related compression of the superior vena cava was diagnosed by spiral CT after intravenous application of contrast medium. Clinically, acute superior vena cava syndrome was found in all patients. Histologically, a bronchial carcinoma was present in 14/22, a lymphoma in 6/22, and mediastinal lymphnode metastases (1 breast carcinoma, 1 malignant melanoma) in 2/22. After a transfemoral approach, cavography was initially performed. The degree of stenosis was classified according to the Stanford classification. In accordance with the degree of stenosis, a self-expanding Nitinol stent was placed.Results: Endovascular stent implantation was conducted without complications in all patients. A marked improvement in acute symptoms was observed clinically within 24 hours in all patients. In the follow-up period of up to 2 years, there were no cases of stent migration. In 7/22 patients, the CT follow-ups revealed tumour progression (3/7 after 3 months, 2/7 after 6 months, and 2/7 after 12 months) with evidence of residual stenosis caused by tumour growth through the stent mesh. During the follow-up period, 15/22 patients died (mean survival 6.4 months).Conclusion: Self-expanding Nitinol stents provide endovascular therapy for superior vena cava syndrome, having a high radial expansive force and the facility to be placed precisely, and alleviating acute, life-threatening symptoms in the palliative situation.

Connections Are Clearly More Complex

CME articles on palliative medicine are to be welcomed, since they are very important. In the article of Bausewein and Simon (1), the sections regarding drug treatment of palliative symptoms are appropriate and reflect the current state of knowledge. Unfortunately, the authors did not stringently adhere to their stated objective of restricting the recommendations to patients with refractory dyspnea (for example, in the title, in the defined learning objectives on page 564, and in the algorithm on page 567). It is not stated clearly enough that the cited evidence is from studies that explicitly included only patients in whom tumor specific treatments (chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery) was no longer indicated or not sufficiently effective. From an oncological perspective, this limitation likely leads to considerable deficits, particularly regarding the care for patients in a palliative setting. The systematic evaluation of possible causes of dyspnea and cough is a crucial step towards the best possible treatment in the palliative setting. tThis is, for example, stated in the current US guidelines on palliative medicine published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (2). A plain chest x-ray (as suggested by Bausewein and Simon) will, for example, not be sufficient to detect pulmonary embolism, which is quite common in cancer patients, or malignant pericardial effusion. Another important issue not covered by this article is the administration of local treatments such as radiotherapy. Radiotherapy is well recognized as a very effective local treatment generally associated with only minor adverse effects in the treatment of tumor or metastasis related dyspnea, cough, or hemoptysis. Furthermore, the aspect of communication with the patients was not appropriately mentioned. As described in the Canadian guidelines on the relief of dyspnea, preventive treatment of dyspnea should be initiated before a patient displays symptoms, This can be achieved by using structured education programs for patients and by discussing effective, symptom oriented treatment measures that can be applied when the malignant disease is progressing (3). The process of multidisciplinary treatment decision making is mandatory in order to provide the most appropriate treatment approach for each individual cancer patient being in a palliative situation .Such a process requires a great expertise (4), which has been emphasized by the authors of this CME article. However, the authors have not mentioned important disciplines that can contribute very effectively to the relief of dyspnea in palliative cancer patients. The S3 guideline on palliative medicine that is currently under development will likely provide a more comprehensive perspective.

Single-Phase Percutaneous Recanalization of Malignant Bile Duct Obstructions with a Covered Stent Graft

The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of a percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTCD) endoprothesis in the case of patients with malignant occlusion of the common bile duct (CBD). 32 patients (mean age 72 ± 13 years) were treated with an endoprosthesis (VIABIL; M. L. GORE & ASSOCIATES, INC., USA) due to failed attempts of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) in the case of malignant occlusion of the CBD. The technical success rate was 96.9 %. In one patient the probing of an intrahepatic bile duct was impossible. Two major complications (bleeding, liver abscess) were successfully treated with appropriate measures. The bilirubin level did not significantly decrease immediately after intervention (13.2 ± 6.5 mg/dl; p > 0.05). However, the follow-up displayed a highly significant decrease of bilirubin to 6.0 ± 7.4 mg/dl; p < 0.05). The endoprosthesis was extended with bare metal NITINOL stents in 9 patients. The mean survival time of the patient group was 64 ± 28 days (range 2 - 250 days). The implantation of an endoprosthesis proved to be an option with high technical success, a low complication rate and good benefit in our patients with malignant bile duct obstruction in palliative therapy situations. • The primary objective in the case of malignant bile duct obstruction is the treatment of jaundice.• After failed endoscopic recanalization of the bile ducts, transhepatic biliary drainage is desirable.• An ePTFE-FEP covered endoprothesis is a good treatment option in palliative situations.• A single-stage procedure shortens hospitalization time.

Palliative Care and Use of Animal-Assisted Therapy

A growing body of research and clinical reports support the benefits of utilizing animal-assisted therapy (AAT) as a complementary, transdisciplinary treatment intervention in medical settings. However, fewer articles are found demonstrating AAT's use in palliative care settings. This article is a study of the effects of AAT in palliative care situations, presenting one anecdotal clinical vignette. In this way, the efficacy of this technique in decreasing patient pain, thereby increasing patient quality of life, and lowering staff stress levels may be illustrated.

Wann sollen Pflegeheimbewohner hospitalisiert werden und wann nicht?

Nursing home residents are often referred by their general practitioners to the emergency department or to a geriatric hospital. Hospitalization is mainly perceived as a burden by elderly people; it may also contribute to a reduction of their mental abilities and functional decline. Reasons for admitting patients from nursing homes include infections, exacerbation of pre-existing cardiovascular disease and falls. GP presence in the nursing home, qualified nursing staff, early diagnosis of infections or acute on chronic episodes of e. g. heart failure and appropriate management of chronic diseases are essential to avoid unnecessary hospitalizations. Furthermore, physicians should identify palliative situations in a timely manner and should be familiar with the patients' preferences regarding hospitalization and place of death.

A simple survival score for patients with brain metastases from breast cancer

Personalized cancer treatment considers the patient's survival prognosis. Therefore, it is important to be able to estimate the patient's survival time, particularly in a palliative situation such as brain metastasis. This study aimed to create and validate a survival score for patients with brain metastasis from breast cancer, which is the second most common primary tumor in these patients. Data of 230 patients treated with whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) alone for brain metastasis from breast cancer were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were assigned to a test (n = 115) or a validation group (n = 115). According to the results of the multivariate analysis of the test group, Karnofsky Performance Score and extracranial metastases were included in the scoring system. The score for each factor was obtained from the 6-month survival rate (in %) divided by 10. Total scores represented the sum of these scores and were 4, 7, 9, or 12points. Three prognostic groups were formed. The 6-month survival rates in the test group were 10 % for 4-7points, 55 % for 9points, and 78 % for 15points (p < 0.001). In the validation group the corresponding 6-month survival rates were 11, 54, and 75 %, respectively (p < 0.001). The comparisons between the prognostic groups of the test and the validation group did not show significant differences. This simple survival score appears valid and reproducible. It can be used to estimate the survival time of patients with brain metastasis from breast cancer receiving WBRT alone.

“There is still so much ahead of us”—Family functioning in families of palliative cancer patients.

Adopting a systems approach, parental cancer has its impact on patients, spouses, and dependent children. The purpose of the current study was to examine family functioning dependent on parental disease stage and on family member perspective in families of cancer patients with adolescent children. The cross-sectional study was conducted within a German multisite research project of families before their first child-centered counseling encounter. The sample comprised individuals nested within N = 169 families. Analyses performed included analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) and intraclass correlation. Open answers were analyzed following quantitative content analysis procedures. Between 15% and 36% of family members reported dysfunctional general functioning scores. Parents indicated more dysfunctional scores on the Family Assessment Device scale Roles, and adolescents more dysfunctional Communication scores. Regarding assessment of family functioning, there was higher agreement in families with parents in a palliative situation. For adolescents with parents in palliation, incidents because of the disease tend to become more dominant, and spending time with the family tends to become even more important. As our study pointed out, parental cancer, and especially parental palliative disease, is associated with both perceived critical and positive aspects in family functioning. Supporting families in these concerns as well as encouraging perceptions of positive aspects are important components of psycho-oncological interventions for families with dependent children.

Palliative plastische Chirurgie im multimodalen Therapiekonzept

Survival rates even in advanced tumour stage have been improved for some tumour entities due to progress in adjuvant and neoadjuvant therapeutic strategies. Nevertheless, painful, exulcerated or bleeding wounds can impair quality of life for palliative patients. Increasing evidence in palliative treatment has raised options for plastic-reconstructive surgery to be applied for treatment of local wounds which can improve quality of life for the remaining lifetime for the palliative patients in our institutions. In this review the role of plastic surgery in the palliative treatment concept is highlighted as well as conservative and operative treatment options are discussed. With regard to the limited evidence, an analysis of the currently available literature was performed and data reviewed. These data were added to a case series of patients of our hospital. The analysis of the literature revealed only few data which all indicate an improvement of quality of life due to reconstructive procedures in the palliative situation. There are some studies dealing with plastic surgical operations in advanced tumour diseases. Plastic surgery procedures become relevant after failure of conservative treatment wound care. The most frequent entities are soft tissue sarcomas, squamous cell carcinomas and breast cancer. Safe and simple flaps should be preferred, but free flaps and tendon transfer are optional procedures, and resection of the thoracic wall can be justified in palliative indications with sufficient soft tissue coverage. The indications for major limb amputation should be restricted to selective cases because quality of life is highly reduced. Radiation is possible even after tissue transfer in some cases, and radiation-induced dermatitis with ulcerations can be treated additionally. Opportunities and limitations in plastic and reconstructive surgery should be continuously presented in tumour boards, to clarify these important procedures for palliative patients to all members of the tumour board. There is an increasing impact of plastic surgery for improving the quality of life in palliative patients in a multimodal therapeutical concept.

The role of radiotherapy in the overall treatment of melanoma

Radiotherapy has become an effective treatment in the management of melanoma patients. It has its place beneath surgical treatment options in a tumor entity that has only limited response to systemic medical therapies. New therapies, such as ipilimumab and vemurafenib, may prolong survival for several months but will cure only a few patients. Radiotherapy will still be required in adjuvant settings to reduce the local recurrence rate and in palliative situations, particularly in brain and bone metastasis. We review several indications for radiotherapy in the management of malignant melanoma with an effect on the guidelines in our clinical practice.

Hippocampal avoidance with volumetric modulated arc therapy in melanoma brain metastases – the first Australian experience

PurposeVolumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) can deliver intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) like dose distributions in a short time; this allows the expansion of IMRT treatments to palliative situations like brain metastases (BMs). VMAT can deliver whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) with hippocampal avoidance and a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) to achieve stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) for BMs. This study is an audit of our experience in the treatment of brain metastases with VMAT in our institution.Methods and materialsMetastases were volumetrically contoured on fused diagnostic gadolinium enhanced T1 weighted MRI/planning CT images. Risk organs included hippocampus, optic nerve, optic chiasm, eye, and brain stem. The hippocampi were contoured manually as one paired organ with assistance from a neuroradiologist. WBRT and SIB were integrated into a single plan.ResultsThirty patients with 73 BMs were treated between March 2010 and February 2012 with VMAT. Mean follow up time was 3.5 months. For 26 patients, BMs arose from primary melanoma and for the remaining four patients from non-small cell lung cancer (n= 2), primary breast cancer, and sarcoma. Mean age was 60 years. The male to female ratio was 2:1. Five patients were treated without hippocampal avoidance (HA) intent. The median WBRT dose was 31 Gy with a median SIB dose for BMs of 50 Gy, given over a median of 15 fractions. Mean values for BMs were as follows: GTV = 6.9 cc, PTV = 13.3 cc, conformity index = 8.6, homogeneity index = 1.06. Mean and maximum hippocampus dose was 20.4 Gy, and 32.4 Gy, respectively, in patients treated with HA intent. Mean VMAT treatment time from beam on to beam off for one fraction was 3.43 minutes, which compared to WBRT time of 1.3 minutes. Twenty out of 25 assessable lesions at the time of analysis were controlled. Treatment was well tolerated; grade 4 toxicity was reported in one patient. The median overall survival was 9.40 monthsConclusionsVMAT for BMs is feasible, safe and associated with a similar survival times and toxicities to conventional SRT+/−WBRT. The advantage of VMAT is that WBRT and SRT can be delivered at the same time on one machine.

Notarzteinsätze bei Palliativpatienten - Algorithmus zur Entscheidungsfindung und Behandlungsempfehlungen

Emergency care for patients in palliative situations is not a rare event, but often difficult to handle, because training in palliative care for emergency physicians is often insufficient. This article proposes an algorithm that should facilitate the decision-making process in such emergencies. In addition, recommendations concerning the management of symptoms in the emergency medical services are presented.

Attachment Theory and Spirituality: Two Threads Converging in Palliative Care?

The aim of this paper is to discuss and explore the interrelation between two concepts, attachment theory and the concept of spirituality, which are important to palliative care and to founding a multivariate understanding of the patient's needs and challenges. Both concepts have been treated by research in diverse and multiform ways, but little effort has yet been made to integrate them into one theoretical framework in reference to the palliative context. In this paper, we begin an attempt to close this scientific gap theoretically. Following the lines of thought in this paper, we assume that spirituality can be conceptualized as an adequate response of a person's attachment pattern to the peculiarity of the palliative situation. Spirituality can be seen both as a recourse to securely based relationships and as an attempt to explore the ultimate unknown, the mystery of one's own death. Thus, spirituality in the palliative context corresponds to the task of attachment behavior: to transcend symbiosis while continuing bonds and thus to explore the unknown environment independently and without fear. Spiritual activity is interpreted as a human attachment behavior option that receives special quality and importance in the terminal stage of life. Implications for clinical practice and research are discussed in the final section of the paper.

Treatment of experimental pancreatic cancer by doxorubicin-, mitoxantrone-, and irinotecan-drug eluting beads

Background and aimsPeritoneal carcinomatosis is a common cause of death in pancreatic cancer patients. In this metastatic stage of the disease, few patients show a sustained response to therapy. In the palliative situation, targeted and compartment restricted delivery of drugs offers the opportunity to focus drugs directly to the tumor site, which is a prerequisite for avoiding toxic side effects. Here, we demonstrate the therapeutic efficiency of biocompatible polyvinyl-alcohol hydrogel drug eluting beads (DEBs) containing doxorubicin, mitoxantrone and irinotecan in vitro and in vivo in a syngenic model of experimental pancreatic cancer. MethodsPanc02 murine pancreatic carcinoma cells were exposed to doxorubicin, mitoxantrone and irinotecan DEBs and free compounds. The effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis induction was compared. Using this cell line, peritoneal carcinomatosis was induced in C57 black6 mice. Mortality, tumor load and therapy-associated weight loss were compared after treatment of tumor-bearing mice with DEBs or free compounds. ResultsIn vitro treatment with DEBs decreases tumor cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. The effect is less pronounced than with corresponding doses of the free drug. Repeated applications of the free drugs in vivo, however, induce significantly higher lethality and weight loss than corresponding doses of DEBs. No relevant differences in antitumoral activity were observed. Using computer tomography and HE-histology after subcutaneous and intraperitoneal injection of radiopaque beads no systemic spread of the beads could be found. ConclusionDEBs show the advantage of delivering potent cytotoxic activity to the intraperitoneal tumor manifestation while maintaining a low systemic toxicity.