RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: The use of home parenteral nutrition (HPN) in patients with advanced cancer is controversial because survival is usually short and there are no data regarding the quality of life (QoL). METHODS: Sixty-nine advanced cancer patients enrolled in a program of HPN in six different Italian centers were prospectively studied as regards nutritional status (body weight, serum albumin, serum transferrin and total lymphocyte count), length of survival and QoL through the Rotterdam Symptom Checklist questionnaire. These variables were collected at the start of HPN and then at monthly intervals. All these patients were severely malnourished, almost aphagic and beyond any possibility of cure. RESULTS: Nutritional indices maintained stable until death. Median survival was 4 months (range 1-14) and about one-third of patients survived more than 7 months. QoL parameters remained stable till 2-3 months before death. CONCLUSIONS: HPN may benefit a limited percentage of patients who may survive longer than the time allowed by a condition of starvation and depletion. Provided that these patients survive longer than 3 months, there is some evidence that QoL remains stable for some months and acceptable for the patients.
Asunto(s)
Neoplasias/complicaciones , Trastornos Nutricionales/terapia , Nutrición Parenteral en el Domicilio , Calidad de Vida , Adulto , Anciano , Anciano de 80 o más Años , Femenino , Humanos , Italia , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Neoplasias/mortalidad , Trastornos Nutricionales/etiología , Estado Nutricional , Selección de Paciente , Estudios Prospectivos , Análisis de Supervivencia , Enfermo TerminalRESUMEN
The pronounced antiemetic properties of Alizapride, one of the new azimidobenzamides suggested the assessment of its efficacy on 40 patients due for oesophagogastroduodenoscopy. The drug proved highly satisfactory as premedication for the examination, significantly inhibiting vomiting and stomach wall tone during the examination as was indicated by in vitro studies.
Asunto(s)
Antieméticos/uso terapéutico , Endoscopía/efectos adversos , Motilidad Gastrointestinal/efectos de los fármacos , Pirrolidinas/uso terapéutico , Vómitos/prevención & control , Animales , Antieméticos/farmacología , Método Doble Ciego , Duodenoscopía/efectos adversos , Esofagoscopía/efectos adversos , Gastroscopía/efectos adversos , Humanos , Técnicas In Vitro , Premedicación , Pirrolidinas/farmacología , Distribución Aleatoria , Ratas , Vómitos/etiologíaRESUMEN
Endoscopy of the upper digestive tract with flexible instruments is presently a safe, widely used technique in gastrointestinal pathology. Some cases of changes in cardiac rhythm, ventricular fibrillation, ischaemia and cardiac arrest, have, however, been observed during EGDS. The incidence of arrhythmias during EGDS in 41 patients, monitored during the examination with Holter's ECG, has been observed. The results obtained confirm that EGDS does not bring noteworthy cardiovascular changes sufficient to suspend the examination. The absence of parasympathicomimetic effects makes it possible to consider thyropramide one of the drugs of choice in medication before EGDS.