BMJ Support Palliat Care
August 2024
We describe the case of a 64-year-old woman with haemoptysis due to a mycotic thoracic aneurysm, with probable fistulation into the lung and oesophagus. Continuous subcutaneous tranexamic acid was used at the end of life to minimise bleeding associated with this, once the oral route was lost. A 1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe aim of this study is to report the results of a second cycle audit of the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam (Keppra) and an updated literature review of management of seizures in palliative care patients. A comprehensive literature review on the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam performed in 2016 was updated. A retrospective audit of the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam for inpatients at Sir Michael Sobell House Hospice during the period of 2019-2020 was performed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Support Palliat Care
September 2022
Background: Paediatric palliative care makes frequent use of orodispersible and transmucosal drug delivery routes. The limited published experience of this practice suggests that it enables the delivery of needle-free symptom relief, with the potential to train family carers to administer anticipatory medications without reliance on trained health professionals.
Aims: To identify orodispersible and potential transmucosal alternatives that may be used in adults in the event of a patient having no oral or intravenous route and no access to subcutaneous injections.
This case report describes the care of a 59-year-old woman with metastatic small cell lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who was highly symptomatic with an intractable cough. The patient reported a subjective benefit from a table fan. The authors observed an objective improvement with a marked reduction in cough frequency when the fan was in use.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Support Palliat Care
September 2020
During the Covid-19 pandemic, a strategy to minimise face-to-face (FtF) visits and limit viral spread is essential. Video consultations offer clinical assessment despite restricted movement of people.We undertook a rapid literature review to identify the highest currently available level of evidence to inform this major change in clinical practice.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCochrane Database Syst Rev
September 2018
BMJ Support Palliat Care
June 2018
Objectives: To report the results of a combined case series analysis of subcutaneous levetiracetam (Keppra) for the management of seizures in palliative care patients.
Methods: A comprehensive literature review on the use of subcutaneous levetiracetam was performed, and these data were combined with a prospective observational audit of its use in terminal care undertaken in a regional palliative care network.
Results: 7 papers were identified from the literature review-four case reports and three observational case series-reporting on a total of 53 cases where subcutaneous levetiracetam was administered.
Fatty acids, normally found in comb wax, have a strong influence on nestmate recognition in honey bees, Apis mellifera L. Previous work has shown that bees from different colonies, when treated with 16- or 18-carbon fatty acids, such as oleic, linoleic, or linolenic acids, are much less likely to fight than bees from two colonies when only one of the two is treated. Previous work also shows that the influence of comb wax on recognition has practical applications; transfer of empty comb between colonies, before merger of those colonies, reduces fighting among workers within the merged colony.
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