Context: Palliative care remains suboptimal in end-stage liver disease (ESLD).
Objectives: We report qualitative outcomes from the REDUCe study. We aimed to explore and contrast experiences/perceptions/care pathways of patients with refractory ascites due to ESLD randomized to either palliative long-term abdominal drains (LTADs) (allow home drainage) vs. large volume paracentesis (LVP) (hospital drainage).
Methods: Concurrent embedded qualitative study in a 12-week feasibility randomized controlled trial. Telephone interviews were conducted, data being recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using applied thematic analysis, considered in terms of a pathway approach toward accessing health care. Quantitative outcomes were collected (integrated palliative outcome scale, short-form liver disease quality of life, EQ-5D-5 L, Zarit Burden Interview-12).
Results: Fourteen patients (six allocated LTAD and eight LVP) and eight nurses participated in the qualitative study. The patient journey in the LVP group could be hindered by challenges along the entire care pathway, from recognizing the need for drainage to a lengthy wait in hospital for drainage and/or to be discharged. These issues also impacted upon caregivers. In contrast, LTADs appeared to transform this care pathway at all levels across the patient's journey by removing the need for hospital drainage. Additional benefits included personalized care, improved symptom control of ascites, being at home, and regular support from community nurses. Nurses also viewed the LTAD favorably, though expressed the need for additional support should this become standard of care.
Conclusion: Patients and nurses expressed acceptability of palliative LTAD in ESLD and preference for this approach in enabling care at home. Proceeding to a definitive trial is feasible.
Trial Registration: ISRCTN30697116, date assigned: 07/10/2015.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2020.12.007 | DOI Listing |
J Cardiovasc Dev Dis
December 2024
Laboratory of X-Ray Endovascular and Reconstructive Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Federal State Budgetary Institution "Research Institute for Complex Issues of Cardiovascular Diseases", Blvd. Named After Academician L.S. Barbarasha, 6, 650002 Kemerovo, Russia.
The Purpose: Evaluation of the short-term and long-term results of a phased correction of the tetralogy of Fallot (ToF) with stenting of the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in comparison with a one-stage total correction (TC) of the defect.
Materials And Methods: Two groups of patients with classical ToF were formed. Group 1 (n = 25; median age = 72 days) was initially represented by children with ToF with a more severe clinical status (median weight = 3.
Curr Oncol
November 2024
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, IRCCS-Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, 40136 Bologna, Italy.
Background: Arterial embolization is a minimally invasive treatment that occludes blood vessels supplying pathological tissue. Developed to control bleeding without surgery, it has evolved over decades and is now applied in musculoskeletal oncology as a preoperative treatment, palliative care, or standalone therapy for select tumors. Recently, its use has expanded globally in treating chronic pain syndromes and osteoarthritis.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCurr Oncol
November 2024
Department of Medicine and Surgery, Kore University of Enna, 94100 Enna, Italy.
(1) Background: Testicular cancer, although accounting for only 0.5% to 1% of all solid male cancers, is the most common malignancy in males aged 15 to 35 years. Non-seminomatous germ cell tumors (NSGCT) represent nearly half of all testicular germ cell tumors and are associated with a more aggressive clinical course.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPain Rep
February 2025
German Paediatric Pain Centre, Children's and Adolescents' Hospital Datteln, Datteln, Germany.
Introduction: Intensive interdisciplinary pain treatment (IIPT) is the best therapy available for children and adolescents affected by severe chronic pain. Psychosocial aftercare (PAC) offered for 6 months after IIPT can improve treatment outcomes for up to 12 months.
Objectives: The current study is the first to explore whether PAC is superior to treatment as usual at a long-term follow-up of 18 to 33 months after discharge-including when facing the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.
BMC Palliat Care
December 2024
Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Tampere University, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere, 33520, Finland.
Background: Patients with chronic nonmalignant pulmonary disease and lung cancer both need palliative care, but palliative care services may be better adjusted to serve cancer patients. We compared the timing and clinical practice of palliative care and acute hospital usage during the last year of life in patients with nonmalignant pulmonary disease or lung cancer.
Methods: This was a retrospective study of all patients in a palliative care phase (palliative goal of care) with nonmalignant pulmonary disease or lung cancer who were treated at Tampere University Hospital, Finland, during the years 2018-2020.
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