Malignant Pleural Effusion: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) has become an increasingly prevalent complication in oncological patients, negatively impacting their quality of life and casting a shadow over their prognosis. Owing to the pathophysiological mechanisms involved and the heterogeneous nature of the underlying disease, this entity is both a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Advances in the understanding of MPE have led to a shift in the treatment paradigm towards a more personalized approach.

Development of a Guide to Multidimensional Needs Assessment in the Palliative Care Initial Encounter (MAP).

Context: Ensuring patient-centered palliative care requires a comprehensive assessment of needs beginning in the initial encounter. However, there is no generally accepted guide for carrying out this multidimensional needs assessment as a first step in palliative intervention.

Objectives: To develop an expert panel-endorsed interview guide that would enable proactive and systematic Multidimensional needs Assessment in the Palliative care initial encounter (MAP).

Impact of Early Referral to Palliative Care in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease.

Interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) have a major impact on survival and quality of life but only a small percentage of patients are referred for palliative care (PC). To assess the impact of early PC referral on hospital admissions, emergency department visits, and place of death in the last year of life. This is a single-center retrospective observational study.

Art Therapy in a Palliative Care Unit: Symptom Relief and Perceived Helpfulness in Patients and Their Relatives.

Context: Creative arts therapies aim to expand conventional palliative care interventions by making clinical care more holistic.

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the benefits of an art therapy intervention in a tertiary hospital palliative care unit, directly in adult cancer inpatients and indirectly in their relatives.

Methods: We evaluated the intensity of pain, anxiety, depression, and well-being using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale before and after the first, third, and fifth art therapy sessions.

Verbalized desire for death or euthanasia in advanced cancer patients receiving palliative care.

Objective: We aimed to address the prevalence of desire-to-die statements (DDSs) among terminally ill cancer patients in an acute palliative care unit. We also intended to compare the underlying differences between those patients who make desire-to-die comments (DDCs) and those who make desire-for-euthanasia comments (EUCs).

Method: We conducted a one-year cross-sectional prospective study in all patients receiving palliative care who had made a DDC or EUC.

Malignant bowel obstruction in advanced cancer patients: epidemiology, management, and factors influencing spontaneous resolution.

Malignant bowel obstruction (MBO) is a frequent complication in advanced cancer patients, especially in those with abdominal tumors. Clinical management of MBO requires a specific and individualized approach that is based on disease prognosis and the objectives of care. The global prevalence of MBO is estimated to be 3% to 15% of cancer patients.