Ketamine analgesic effect by continuous intravenous infusion in refractory cancer pain: considerations about the clinical research in palliative care.

Background: The literature has described the use of ketamine as an adjuvant treatment for opioid-refractory cancer pain. None of these studies have used the drug in a palliative care patient population.

Aims: The primary objective of the study was to assess the efficacy of continuous intravenous infusion of ketamine in patients suffering from cancer pain refractory to opiates who had been admitted to palliative care units.

[Family members integration in patients' care in haematology units: a new application of proximology.].

Hospitalization per se is a stress for the family members of a loved one. While their role as informal caregivers is well known with at home patients, especially in oncology, they usually are only mere visitors at the hospital. Hence the integration of family members of in patients' care might improve both patients and families' quality of life.

Enteral nutrition in French institutionalized patients: a multicentric study.

Background: No previous studies have demonstrated either a nutritional improvement, or a survival benefit from tube placement in an institutionalized population.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine current indications for tube feeding in French geriatric centers and to evaluate clinical outcome and mortality rates in these frail very old patients.

Design: Between November 1, 2000 and April 31, 2001, we prospectively recruited all hospitalized or institutionalized patients who received enteral nutrition (EN) in 7 Departments of Geriatric Medicine in France.

[Value of puncture-arthrography in the diagnosis of infection of total hip arthroplasty].

Arthrography with hip aspiration was performed in 143 patients with hip arthroplasties to determine its effectiveness as a technique for diagnosing infection. Thirty-three cases of infection were found. On 26 occasions the germ responsible was isolated in the joint fluid.