Abstract
Letters to the Editor
Urinary incontinence (UI) is a debilitating condition near death that compromises patients' quality of life (QoL). The embarrassment and distress it causes to patients present unique challenges at the end of life. We sought to determine the prevalence of UI, treatment, and its effects on QoL at the end of life in the intensive care unit. (page 1054)
Brief Reports
International, multisite, prospective consecutive cohort study to examine the indications and the effects of red blood cell transfusion in palliative care patients. The study assessed target symptoms before transfusion and at day 7 by treating clinicians, using National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events. (page 1152)
Fast Facts and Concepts
Palliation of Bladder Spasms #337 (page 1158)
Air Travel at the End of Life #338 (page 1160)
Personal Reflection
No wonder every patient wants what Jimmy Carter received. Certainly every oncologist wants to be the physician to deliver it. Every patient is hoping for hope, and a chance to continue a quality life. We oncologists are hoping too, and with good reason. (page 1166)
Case Discussions in Palliative Medicine
A case of intractable facial pain due to medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw that was successfully controlled with selective percutaneous controlled radiofrequency thermocoagulation of the gasserian ganglion. (page 1171)
Book and Media Reviews
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Recent Literature
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Community-Based Palliative Care: A Day in the Life
Researchers conducted a time and motion study at three care settings within a large hospice and palliative care network and created a process map to describe the personnel and daily activities of a community-based palliative care service. (page 1120)
Statin Discontinuation
In this survey of almost 300 patients with life-limiting illness taking statin medications, few respondents expressed concerns about discontinuing these drugs and many reported potential benefits, including spending less on medications and having a better QoL. (page 1098)
Supportive Cardiology
The authors describe how they embedded a palliative care team into their institution's heart failure service. (page 1112)
Trigger Point Injections for Cancer Pain
The authors evaluated factors associated with the efficacy of trigger point injections to myofascial trigger points in advanced cancer patients. (page 1085)
Simulation versus Didactic Education
In this pilot study, researchers assessed the relative effectiveness of simulation-based versus didactic education among 35 pediatric fellows in cardiology, critical care, hematology/oncology, and neonatology at two institutions. They measured communication skill retention over time as well as the effect on palliative care consultation rates. (page 1074)
Symptom Protocol for Heart Failure
The authors describe a treatment protocol for veterans dying of end-stage heart failure with home hospice, leading to fewer hospitalizations and better control of symptoms at home. (page 1068)
Pediatric Palliative Care: A Five-Year Snapshot
In this retrospective chart review of 256 patients aged 2–16 years, researchers describe the medical complexity of children referred to palliative care, timing of referrals, pain levels before and after referral, and patient survival. (page 1104)
Preferences for Bereavement Care
This study explored the bereavement service preferences of bereaved family members whose loved one died in the hospital and identified group differences in service use among people with and without depression and complicated grief. (page 1091)