Magnesium-induced ketamine toxicity.

A 62-year-old man with metastatic duodenal cancer was admitted to a hospice for a trial of ketamine to manage complex neuropathic abdominal pain. The patient was incrementally established on a dose of 150 mg orally four times day with no adverse effects. Following treatment of hypomagnesaemia intravenously, the patient experienced marked symptoms of ketamine toxicity, known as a 'K-hole' amongst recreational users, following the next dose of ketamine. Ketamine and magnesium are both antagonists of the N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor, which plays a part in central sensitisation to pain. There is some evidence that correction of hypomagnesaemia may improve analgesia and that there is synergism between ketamine and magnesium in analgesia, but this relationship is poorly understood. This is the first report suggesting that blood magnesium levels may affect the side effects of a stable dose of ketamine.

How good is end of life care for patients dying with cystic fibrosis?

BACKGROUND: Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is a life-limiting illness. Audit of the care of patients dying of CF has not been published to date. METHODS: Newcastle and Oxford teams adapted the National Audit of Care at the End of Life and agreed additional questions that were particularly pertinent for patients dying as a consequence of their CF. Data were extracted and analysed for 15 patients. RESULTS: On recognition that the patient was dying, the CF teams were less good at reviewing the need for physiological observations (50% vs national 70%) but better at reviewing the need for capillary blood glucose monitoring, oxygen support and intravenous antibiotics compared with the national average for all patients.On recognition that the patient was dying, the CF teams were better at assessing pain (87% vs national 80%) and breathlessness (93% vs national 73%), but less good at assessing nausea and vomiting (47% vs national 74%).There was documented evidence that 100% of families and 64% of patients were aware that the patient was at risk of dying. CONCLUSION: Comparing care of this sample of patients dying with CF against the national data is a useful first step in understanding that many aspects of care are of high quality. This audit identifies the need to offer earlier conversations to patients as their voices may be missing from the conversation. Undertaking a national audit would provide a more reliable and a fuller picture.

Missed opportunities: unnecessary medicine use in patients with lung cancer at the end of life - an international cohort study.

AIMS: The aims of the current study were: (i) to examine the prescribing of preventative medication in a cohort of people with advanced lung cancer on hospital admission and discharge across different healthcare systems; and (ii) to explore the factors that influence preventative medication prescribing at hospital discharge. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted across two centres in the UK and the US. The prescribing of preventative medication was examined at hospital admission and discharge for patients who died of lung cancer. A zero-inflated negative binomial regression model was used to examine the association between preventative medications at discharge and patient- and hospital-based factors. The classes of preventative medication prescribed included were: vitamins and minerals, and antidiabetic, antihypertensive, antihyperlipidaemic and antiplatelet medications. RESULTS: In the UK site (n = 125), the mean number of preventative medications prescribed was 1.9 [standard deviation (SD) 1.7) on admission, and 1.7 (SD 1.7) on discharge, and in the US site (n = 191) the mean was 2.6 (SD 2.2) on admission and 1.9 (SD 2.2) on discharge. The model found a significant association between the number of preventative drugs prescribed on admission and the number on discharge; it also found a significant association between the total number of drugs prescribed on discharge and the number of preventative medications on discharge. Other indicators related to patient and hospital factors were not significantly associated with the number of preventative medications supplied on discharge. CONCLUSIONS: The use of preventative medication was common in lung cancer patients, despite undergoing discharge. Patient- and hospital-based factors did not influence the prescribing of preventative medication.

How integrated are neurology and palliative care services? Results of a multicentre mapping exercise.

BACKGROUND: Patients affected by progressive long-term neurological conditions might benefit from specialist palliative care involvement. However, little is known on how neurology and specialist palliative care services interact. This study aimed to map the current level of connections and integration between these services. METHODS: The mapping exercise was conducted in eight centres with neurology and palliative care services in the United Kingdom. The data were provided by the respective neurology and specialist palliative care teams. Questions focused on: i) catchment and population served; ii) service provision and staffing; iii) integration and relationships. RESULTS: Centres varied in size of catchment areas (39-5,840 square miles) and population served (142,000-3,500,000). Neurology and specialist palliative care were often not co-terminus. Service provisions for neurology and specialist palliative care were also varied. For example, neurology services varied in the number and type of provided clinics and palliative care services in the settings they work in. Integration was most developed in Motor Neuron Disease (MND), e.g., joint meetings were often held, followed by Parkinsonism (made up of Parkinson's Disease (PD), Multiple-System Atrophy (MSA) and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP), with integration being more developed for MSA and PSP) and least in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), e.g., most sites had no formal links. The number of neurology patients per annum receiving specialist palliative care reflected these differences in integration (range: 9-88 MND, 3-25 Parkinsonism, and 0-5 MS). CONCLUSIONS: This mapping exercise showed heterogeneity in service provision and integration between neurology and specialist palliative care services, which varied not only between sites but also between diseases. This highlights the need and opportunities for improved models of integration, which should be rigorously tested for effectiveness.

A service evaluation of an integrated model of palliative care of cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced cystic fibrosis have severe symptoms with a complex trajectory of exacerbations and recovery. They are often awaiting lung transplantation, and many die without receiving specialist palliative care. AIM: We introduced an integrated model whereby palliative specialists joined the cystic fibrosis team to provide palliative care in parallel with standard care. DESIGN: A service evaluation of this model of care was undertaken in a prospective case series documenting symptoms and outcomes, the views of the cystic fibrosis team and the experience of the palliative specialists. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Over 3 years, 28 (10%) of 282 patients attending the cystic fibrosis centre had specialist palliative care. RESULTS: They had advanced lung disease (mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) = 0.86 L (25% predicted)), and 17 died: 6 were on a transplant waiting list at death; 10 were unsuitable and 1 died post transplantation. All who died over these 3 years had specialist palliative care. Four patients had successful transplants. Assessment showed a high prevalence of breathlessness, cough, pain, vomiting and fatigue, with a significant impact on daily life. The cystic fibrosis team rated this model of care highly, felt that palliative care should be members of the team, and thought that patients had found it helpful. The palliative specialists gained knowledge of cystic fibrosis, found it beneficial to meet patients earlier in the disease, and identified unmet needs in managing bereavement and the effects of deaths on other patients with cystic fibrosis. CONCLUSION: This model has been successful in overcoming the difficulties in access to specialist palliative care for patients with cystic fibrosis.