[Functional decline and presence of symptoms in palliative care: Cause or consequence?].

Introduction: Several publications have related functional decline to the appearance of symptoms, especially psychiatric or psychological ones, such as anxiety and depression. Moreover, an initial depressive disorder or prior to functional decline usually worsens it. It was decided to investigate the relationship between the presence of functional decline, measured by a decrease in the Barthel index (BI), and the presence of symptoms.

[Role of low molecular weight heparins in prophylaxis of thromboembolic events on oncological patients with indwelling central venous catheter].

Background And Objective: Our study was designed to assess the incidence of thrombosis in the upper limbs and of pulmonary embolism in oncological patients with indwelling central venous catheters, and to evaluate, also, the potential role of LMWH to prevent these events.

Patients And Methods: Oncological patients undergoing placement of a central venous acccess (port-a-cath type) were treated with or without bemiparin in a non-randomized fashion. Assessment included clinical and radiological follow-up.