[Patient-controlled analgesia in palliative care - Concepts and practical aspects]. / Antalgie contrôlée par le patient dans les situations palliatives. Concepts et aspects pratiques.

Patient-Controlled Analgesia (PCA) involving the use of on-demand subcutaneous or intravenous opioids offers patients greater autonomy in managing pain. In palliative situations, this method allows a continuous background infusion rate of opioids and allows a patient to self-administer a pre-set bolus dose of opioids. Indications for PCA are moderate to severe pain that is not relieved by 3rd level analgesics administered in oral ore transdermal route or by intermittent injections. PCA prescription, programming, initiation, and safety monitoring require the vigilance of a trained interdisciplinary team. PCA is safe and effective on hospice inpatients and outpatients and encourage their return or their stay at home.

L'analgésie contrôlée par le patient ou PCA, par voie intraveineuse ou sous-cutanée, rend celui-ci autonome dans la gestion de ses douleurs. En soins palliatifs, cette technique permet la délivrance d'un débit continu d'opioïdes et autorise le patient à déclencher des bolus prédéfinis. La PCA est indiquée en cas de douleurs moyennes à sévères non soulagées par des antalgiques du troisième palier administrés sous forme orale, transdermique, ou en discontinu. La prescription, la programmation, la mise en place et la surveillance de ce mode d'antalgie nécessitent la vigilance d'une équipe interdisciplinaire formée. Elle permet d'encadrer et sécuriser l'administration d'opioïdes chez les patients hospitalisés et en ambulatoire, contribuant ainsi à favoriser leur retour ou leur maintien à domicile.

[Nutritional support for individuals with advanced oncological pathology]. / Soutien nutritionnel aux personnes atteintes de pathologie oncologique avancée.

Cachexia increases the risk of therapeutic failure and reduces the quality of life for cancer patients. Patients with nutritional risks should be referred to a dietitian. Nutritional interventions primarily include meal adaptation and oral nutritional supplements. When cachexia is more severe, artificial nutrition is indicated for patients with a KPS (Karnofsky Performance Status) of 40 or above and a life expectancy of more than 6 weeks. When the digestive system is functional, enteral nutrition is recommended. Parenteral nutrition shows the same benefits but requires close monitoring. The decision to stop artificial nutrition is influenced by the medical condition, the patient's wishes, and the socio-cultural context.

La cachexie augmente le risque d'échec thérapeutique et diminue la qualité de vie des patients atteints de cancer. Ceux présentant un risque nutritionnel doivent être adressés à un diététicien. Les interventions nutritionnelles comprennent en premier lieu l'adaptation des repas et les suppléments nutritionnels oraux. Lorsque la cachexie est plus sévère, une nutrition artificielle est indiquée chez les patients avec un score de performance de Karnofsky (KPS) égal ou supérieur à 40 et une espérance de vie de plus de 6 semaines. Quand le système digestif est fonctionnel, la nutrition entérale est recommandée. La nutrition parentérale montre les mêmes bénéfices mais nécessite une surveillance étroite. La décision de stopper la nutrition artificielle est influencée par la condition médicale, les souhaits du patient et le contexte socioculturel.

Intranasal Dexmedetomidine for Pain Management in Older Patients: A Cross-Over, Randomized, Double-Blinded, Active-Controlled Trial.

BACKGROUND: Daily care procedures provoke breakthrough pain and anxiety in palliative situations. Dexmedetomidine may be an alternative to opioids during nursing procedures for older patients. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to compare the efficacy of intranasal dexmedetomidine with subcutaneous opioids on the intensity of pain and anxiety during comfort management procedures. METHODS: We conducted a randomized, active-controlled, double-blind, crossover trial (NCT03151863). Patients aged ≥ 65 years were randomized to receive, 45 min before nursing care, either intranasal dexmedetomidine together with subcutaneous placebo or intranasal placebo together with a subcutaneous opioid. Each of these two interventions were administered in a cross-over design and spaced out over a 24- or 48-h period. The primary outcome was the number of patients with an Elderly Caring Pain Assessment score > 5. Secondary outcomes included pain, sedation score, and vital signs. RESULTS: Because of difficult recruitment, the trial was interrupted after the inclusion of 24 patients. Three patients withdrew after randomization, leaving 21 patients undergoing 42 complete sessions for descriptive analyses. Of the 21 patients, 12 (57.1%) were women, and their median age was 84 years, interquartile range (75-87 years). Nine (42.9%) patients presented an Elderly Caring Pain Assessment score > 5 when receiving subcutaneous opioids, and seven (33.3%) with intranasal dexmedetomidine. Hypoxemia occurred in a single patient receiving subcutaneous opioids. No episode of bradycardia was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Intranasal dexmedetomidine is feasible in elderly patients and may be an alternative to opioids to ensure comfort during nursing care. Future studies are needed to confirm the efficacy and safety of this procedure.

Determinants of suicidal history before assisted versus self-initiated suicide late in life: an observational study.

BACKGROUND: Older adults are at risk of assisted and self-initiated suicide. The links between prior attempts and assisted suicide in the elderly have not been investigated. Hence, we aimed to investigate and describe the occurrence, timing and determinants of suicide attempts prior to assisted and self-initiated suicide. METHODS: We developed a retrospective study of all assisted and self-initiated suicides among people over 65 years in the canton of Geneva, Switzerland, for a 10-year period (2010-2019). Cases were identified by cross-referencing hospitals' routinely collected electronic data and a forensic report database. Cases were characterised in terms of sociodemographic factors, mental health disorders, main comorbidities, temporal sequence, methods of injury, medical complications and disclosure rates of previous attempts. The study used descriptive statistics. RESULTS: A total of 26 of 497 (5.2%) and 20 of 149 (13.4%) older adults had made previous attempts before assisted and self-initiated suicide, respectively. More than half of them had made a single attempt, mostly by medication poisoning, sometimes more than 10 years before dying. Individuals who made two attempts were significantly more represented among the assisted suicide decedents. One self-initiated suicide decedent and half of the assisted suicide cases had disclosed that they had considered suicide. Individual characteristics were similar, except for assisted suicide decedents, who were eight years older than self-initiated suicide decedents. Almost all the individuals had mental disorders. Depression, anxiety and chronic pain were particularly prevalent among decedents of assisted suicide. The substantial representation of women in both groups may be an indication of their vulnerability, possibly related to chronic pain and life stressors. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show commonalities between older assisted and self-initiated suicide decedents who made an attempt (s) before suicide. Further research is needed to demonstrate the overlap between the determinants of assisted suicide and other forms of suicidality and to support a suicide prevention strategy applicable to both types of suicide.

Long-Term Dexmedetomidine Use and Safety Profile in Palliative Care: A Case Report.

There is a lack of report of conscious sedation used as a last resort therapy for alleviating severe symptoms. To achieve this goal, dexmedetomidine appears to be a promising option. We report a case of successful two-month long treatment of intravenous (IV) dexmedetomidine added to hydromorphone for intractable cancer pain, restlessness, severe sleep disorder, anxiety, and craving symptoms in a 40-year-old man with active polysubstance use, receiving escalating doses of opioids for intractable abdominal cancer pain together with benzodiazepines. Under dexmedetomidine infusion at 1.2 µg/kg/hour, his symptoms markedly decreased. He could sleep at night and find respite during the day while continuing walking, eating, and other activities. Long-term conscious sedation with IV dexmedetomidine was well tolerated. We did not observe anxiety or agitation rebound during short periods of discontinuation of the infusion. Neither side effects nor tolerance were observed over time. Further research is needed to investigate the indications for conscious sedation and analgesia with dexmedetomidine in palliative patients with a prognosis that is longer than few weeks or uncertain.

[Morphine, pain and religions]. / Morphine, douleur et religions.

Pain and opioids use have different meanings depending on one's beliefs. It is important to encourage and to recognize the value of religious practices as a part of holistic care. Respecting spirituality has the potential to strengthen the therapeutic alliance and promote appropriate care. This article provides food for thought through clinical vignettes frequently encountered in clinical practice.

La douleur et l'utilisation des opiacés revêtent une signification différente selon les croyances. Encourager et reconnaître la valeur des pratiques religieuses comme un processus de soin à part entière peut renforcer l'alliance thérapeutique et favoriser une prise en charge adéquate. Cet article donne des pistes de réflexion au travers de vignettes cliniques fréquemment rencontrées dans la pratique clinique.

Monitoring nociception and awareness during palliative sedation: A systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Providing unawareness and pain relief are core elements of palliative sedation. In addition to clinical scales, nociception and electroencephalogram-based depth of sedation monitoring are used to assess the level of consciousness and analgesia during sedation in intensive care units and during procedures. AIM: To determine whether reported devices impact the outcomes of palliative sedation. DESIGN: Systematic review and narrative synthesis of research published between January 2000 and December 2020. DATA SOURCES: Embase, Google Scholar, PubMed, CENTRAL, and the Cochrane Library. All reports describing the use of any monitoring device to assess the level of consciousness or analgesia during palliative sedation were screened for inclusion. Data concerning safety and efficacy were extracted. Patient comfort was the primary outcome of interest. Articles reporting sedation but that did not meet guidelines of the European Association for Palliative Care were excluded. RESULTS: Six reports of five studies were identified. Four of these were case series and two were case reports. Together, these six reports involved a total of 67 sedated adults. Methodological quality was assessed fair to good. Medication regimens were adjusted to bispectral index monitoring values in two studies, which found poor correlation between monitoring values and observational scores. In another study, high nociception index values, representing absence of pain, were used to detect opioid overdosing. Relatives and caregivers found the procedures feasible and acceptable.

A qualitative study on continuous deep sedation until death as an alternative to assisted suicide in Switzerland.

BACKGROUND: According to the European Association for Palliative Care, decisions regarding palliative sedation should not be made in response to requests for assisted dying, such as euthanasia or assisted suicide. However, several studies show that continuous deep sedation until death (CDSUD) - a particular form of sedation - has been considered as an alternative to these practices in some countries. In Switzerland, where assisted suicide is decriminalized and CDSUD is not legally regulated, no studies have comprehensively investigated their relation. Our study aimed to identify and describe the experience among palliative care physicians of CDSUD as a potential alternative to assisted suicide in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. METHODS: We performed an exploratory multicentre qualitative study based on interviews with palliative care physicians in the French-speaking part of Switzerland and conducted linguistic and thematic analysis of all interview transcripts. The study is described in accordance with COREQ guidelines. RESULTS: We included 10 interviews conducted in four palliative care units. Our linguistic analysis shows four main types of sedation, which we called 'rapid CDSUD', 'gradual CDSUD', 'temporary sedation' and 'intermittent sedation'. CDSUD (rapid or gradual) was not considered an alternative to assisted suicide, even if a single situation has been reported. In contrast, 'temporary' or 'intermittent sedation', although not medically indicated, was sometimes introduced in response to a request for assisted suicide. This was the fact when there were barriers to an assisted suicide at home (e.g., when transfer home was impossible or the patient wished not to burden the family). CONCLUSION: These preliminary results can guide clinical, ethical, linguistic and legal reflection in this field and be used to explore this question more deeply at the national and international levels in a comparative, interdisciplinary and multiprofessional approach. They can also be useful to update Swiss clinical guidelines on palliative sedation in order to include specific frameworks on various sedation protocols and sedation as an alternative to assisted suicide. Potential negative impacts of considering palliative sedation as an alternative to assisted suicide should be nuanced by open and honest societal debate.

[Palliative and intensive care collaborative approach in the management of therapeutic withdrawals: lessons learned from the COVID-19 experience]. / Approche collaborative des soins palliatifs et des soins intensifs dans la gestion des retraits thérapeutiques - Ce qu'il faut retenir de l'expérience du COVID-19.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, many of the usual aspects of therapeutic withdrawals had to be adapted. Preparing and supporting patients, next of kin and staff to death was particularly challenging. Palliative care was integrated into the process of therapeutic withdrawals in intensive care units during this crisis. Continuing education related to end-of-life issues and defining collaboration with palliative care is essential for intensive care teams.

Durant la pandémie Coronavirus Disease 19, certains aspects habituels des retraits thérapeutiques ont dû être adaptés. L'accompagnement des patients et de leurs proches au décès ainsi que le soutien aux équipes de soins ont amené à résoudre de nouveaux défis. L'intégration des soins palliatifs dans les processus de retraits thérapeutiques aux soins intensifs a pu être mise en œuvre durant cette crise sanitaire. La formation continue aux questions en lien avec la fin de vie et l'établissement de plans de collaboration avec les soins palliatifs est essentielle aux soins intensifs.