Early Palliative Care in Advanced Oncologic and Non-Oncologic Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review of Literature.

Background: To assess the role of early palliative care in patients with advanced oncologic and non-oncologic chronic diseases.

Methods: A qualitative systematic review of literature was performed. All the randomized phase III trials comparing early, simultaneous palliative care and standard care in patients with advanced oncologic and non-oncologic diseases were considered eligible and included into the analysis.

High opioid dosage rapid detoxification of cancer patient in palliative care with the Raffaeli model.

Background: Chronic opioid administration can induce adverse drug-dependent events and tolerance and/or hyperalgesia development. Opioid rotation is the treatment option in this case; however, it can expose patients to long periods of ineffectiveness and/or development of withdrawal syndrome, overdose, or adverse events. To overcome this issue, a method of rapid detoxification from opioids has been developed.

Qualitative pain classification in hospice and pain therapy unit.

In this study, we investigated patient's meaning attribution to pain in hospice and pain therapy unit, using a qualitative approach: narrative-based medicine. The data presented here were related to patients (n = 17) hospitalized in Rimini Hospice (Italy). These data were compared to those of patients (n = 21) with noncancer pain (control sample).

Ziconotide: A rapid detoxification protocol for the conversion from intrathecal morphine--the Raffaeli Detoxification Model.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy and the safety of our rapid detoxificationprotocol in preventing signs and symptoms of withdrawal and pain severity.

Design: Prospective, open-label case series study.

Settings: Public primary care at the Pain and Palliative Care Unit of the Infermi Hospital of Rimini, Italy.