Physician approaches to palliative sedation

February 13, 2012 in Other

Physicians take two types of approaches to palliative sedation, either mild sedation or deep sedation from the start, and it is important to understand the reasons behind each approach, states an article in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).

Palliative sedation is used to relieve suffering in dying patients and can be administered in different levels. "Continuous deep sedation until death is considered the most far reaching and controversial type of palliative sedation," writes Dr. Siebe Swart, Department of Public Health, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, with coauthors.

Researchers from The Netherlands sought to understand physician decision-making about the type of palliative sedation. They conducted a study in which they interviewed 54 physicians about their practices and attitudes toward sedation.

"Physicians either aim for right from the start or begin with mild sedation and deepen it gradually if needed," write the authors. "The arguments that the interviewed physicians used for a specific approach related to alleviation of symptoms, communication, the possibility of awakening and expert advice."

Patient and family preferences, such fear of awakening in discomfort, contribute to the degree of sedation chosen. Physicians who believed communication with the patient was important used lighter sedation than those for whom communication was unnecessary as patients had indicated they were "ready to die."

"For further improvement of at the end of life, we recommend that the arguments that use about the depth of sedation should be studied in relation to the expectations of patients and families," conclude the authors.

Journal reference: Canadian Medical Association Journal search and more info website

Provided by Canadian Medical Association Journal search and more info website

4 /5 (1 vote)  

Rank 4 /5 (1 vote)
Relevant PhysicsForums posts

More news stories

ACP issues recommendations for management of high blood glucose in hospitalized patients

High blood glucose is associated with poor outcomes in hospitalized patients, and use of intensive insulin therapy (IIT) to control hyperglycemia is a common practice in hospitals. But the recent evidence does not show a ...

Other created May 24, 2013 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Future doctors unaware of their obesity bias

Two out of five medical students have an unconscious bias against obese people, according to a new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. The study is published online ahead of print in the Journal of ...

Other created May 23, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Plastic realistic: Medical students to use plastinated human bodies for anatomy learning

Nanyang Technological University's (NTU) new medical school will be pioneering the use of plastinated bodies for medical education in Singapore.

Other created May 23, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Survey points out deficiencies in addictions training for medical residents

A 2012 survey of internal medicine residents at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) – one of the nation's leading teaching hospitals – found that more than half rated the training they had received in addiction and other ...

Other created May 22, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Early use of tracheostomy for mechanically ventilated patients not associated with improved survival

For critically ill patients receiving mechanical ventilation, early tracheostomy (within the first 4 days after admission) was not associated with an improvement in the risk of death within 30 days compared to patients who ...

Other created May 21, 2013 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0


First drug to improve heart failure mortality in over a decade

Coenzyme Q10 decreases all cause mortality by half, according to the results of a multicentre randomised double blind trial presented today at Heart Failure 2013 congress. It is the first drug to improve heart failure mortality ...

Heart failure accelerates male 'menopause'

Heart failure accelerates the aging process and brings on early andropausal syndrome (AS), according to research presented today at the Heart Failure Congress 2013. AS, also referred to as male 'menopause', was four times ...

Seniors more likely to crash when driving with pet, study finds

(HealthDay)—Animals make great companions for senior citizens, but elderly people who always drive with a pet in the car are far more likely to crash than those who never drive with a pet, researchers have ...

New immune system discovered

(Medical Xpress)—A research team, led by Jeremy Barr, a biology post-doctoral fellow, unveils a new immune system that protects humans and animals from infection.

Brain can be trained in compassion, study shows

Until now, little was scientifically known about the human potential to cultivate compassion—the emotional state of caring for people who are suffering in a way that motivates altruistic behavior.

Death highest in heart failure patients admitted in January, on Friday, and overnight

Mortality and length of stay are highest in heart failure patients admitted in January, on Friday, and overnight, according to research presented today at the Heart Failure Congress 2013. The analysis of nearly 1 million ...