Tongue edema as an adverse drug reaction to low-dose olanzapine in a cancer patient receiving palliative care.

OBJECTIVES: Olanzapine is an atypical neuroleptic indicated for treatment of various psychiatric disorders, but it has also several indications in palliative care (PC) patients: opioids misuse, nausea not related to chemotherapy, anorexia-cachexia syndrome, and sleep and mood disorders. Peripheral and facial edema are a rare side effect of the treatment with olanzapine. I report a case of an advanced cancer patient cared receiving PC who developed moderate tongue edema on day 1 of a low dose of olanzapine. METHODS: A patient with advance and metastatic colon cancer presented moderate tongue edema on day 1 of a low dose (2.5 mg) of olanzapine for the treatment of his nausea, anorexia-cachexia syndrome, and mood disorder (mainly anxiety). RESULTS: The patient discontinued the drug with resolution of the edema. The day after he called our outpatients' service, a prompt physical examination, together with blood tests, excluded other differential diagnosis. SIGNIFICANCE OF RESULTS: To the best of our knowledge, this is the second case reporting head and neck localized edema due to olanzapine treatment in a patient with advanced cancer receiving PC. Considering the increasing use of olanzapine as off-label treatment in these patients (often for cluster symptoms), our report could help clinicians in daily practice and researchers on put a deeper focus on indications for olanzapine in PC.

The 'surprise' question in advanced cancer patients: A prospective study among general practitioners.

BACKGROUND: Using the 'surprise' question 'Would you be surprised if this patient died in the next year?' may improve physicians' prognostic accuracy and identify people appropriate for palliative care. AIM: Determine the prognostic accuracy of general practitioners asking the 'surprise' question about their patients with advanced (stage IV) cancer. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: Between December 2011 and February 2012, 42 of 50 randomly selected general practitioners (Bologna area, Italy) prospectively classified 231 patients diagnosed with advanced cancer according to the 'surprise' question and supplied the status of each patient 1 year later. RESULTS: Of the 231 patients, general practitioners responded 'No' to the 'surprise' question for 126 (54.5%) and 'Yes' for 105 (45.5%). After 12 months, 104 (45.0%) patients had died; 87 (83.7%) were in the 'No' group. The sensitivity of the 'surprise' question was 69.3%; the specificity was 83.6%. Positive predictive value was 83.8%; negative predictive value was 69.0%. The answer to the 'surprise' question was significantly correlated with survival at 1 year. Patients in the 'No' group had an odds ratio of 11.55 (95% confidence interval: 5.83-23.28) and a hazard ratio of 6.99 (95% confidence interval: 3.75-13.03) of being dead in the next year compared to patients in the 'Yes' group (p = 0.000 for both odds ratio and hazard ratio). CONCLUSION: When general practitioners used the 'surprise' question for their patients with advanced cancer, the accuracy of survival prognosis was very high. This has clinical potential as a method to identify patients who might benefit from palliative care.

'Now I can train myself to be with death': a phenomenological study with young doctors in care homes supported by a palliative care unit during the second wave of the pandemic in Italy.

OBJECTIVE: During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, one of the organisational strategies established by the Italian National Health System was the special units for continuity of care (SUCCs). In the province of Ravenna, those units enrolled novice doctors to care for elderly patients with COVID-19 in care homes (CHs). The local palliative care (PC) unit decided to offer consultations and support to them. This study aimed to comprehend the experience of young doctors who asked for consultations when facing, during their first early years of practice, complex situations. DESIGN: We conducted a qualitative study employing a phenomenological approach and in-depth interviews. PARTICIPANTS: We involved 10 young doctors who worked in Italian SUCC during the pandemic and used a PC consultation support service. RESULTS: What describes our participants' experience is related to four main themes: (1) reducing distances, (2) perceiving medical futility and improvising, (3) being supported to learn how to be with death and (4) narrowed timing to humanise care. The pandemic was, for our participants, a moment of reflection and critique on the skills acquired during the university course. It was a strong experience of human and professional growth that helped them reshape and deepen their role and skills, incorporating the approach of PC into their professional identity. CONCLUSIONS: Integration between specialists and young doctors with an early entry into the workforce during the pandemic in CHs set out a 'shift' to a proactive and creative approach through a new awareness of professional and personal roles in doctor-patient relations. The continuity of care models should be rethought by integrating CHs and PC. Adequate PC training for young doctors (at pregraduate and postgraduate levels) can change doctors' vision and daily practice in assisting patients at the end of life.

[Overview and symptom management in heart failure patients eligible for palliative care]. / Inquadramento e gestione dei sintomi nel cardiopatico candidato a cure palliative.

Burden symptom in advanced heart failure highly affects quality of life of both patients and caregivers, leading to severe functional limitation and social isolation. Symptoms in the advanced phases of the disease are numerous and often underestimated and undertreated. This negatively affects not only quality of life, but also increases hospitalizations, reduces therapeutic adherence, impairs cardiac function and leads to reduced survival. When symptom control cannot be achieved only with specific cardiologic therapy, optimal care should shift to a combination of life-prolonging and symptom-relief approach, possibly to be initiated as soon as advanced phases are detected. Optimal treatment of severe and invalidating symptoms requires a multi-modal and multi-dimensional approach, as pharmacological therapy represents only a part of a global evaluation that should include spiritual and psycho-social factors, potentially influencing symptom perception. Assessment therefore should rely on multi-modal and multi-dimensional patient-centered score models, such as the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), or the Integrated Palliative care Outcome Scale (IPOS).Pain, dyspnea, depression, fatigue and less frequent but distressing symptoms, including gastrointestinal disorders (nausea, vomiting, fecal impaction, hiccups), cough, itching, skin xerosis and restless legs syndrome, will be analyzed, and evidence of best palliative practice will be discussed.

[Palliative care and heart failure: some remarks about cost-effectiveness and clinical results]. / Cure palliative e scompenso cardiaco: considerazioni su costo-efficacia e risultati clinici.

Early palliative care (PC) clearly demonstrated its efficacy in patients with heart failure (HF), reducing symptom burden, mainly pain and depression, improving quality of life, and reducing the access to the health care system. However, there are not conclusive data on economic cost reduction. The reasons are related to the few patients involved in the studies dedicated to this topic, to the different clinical settings, different modalities of provision and funding of PC, and different timing of PC implementation. PC was not shown to reduce mortality nor hospital readmissions in randomized trials.The unanswered questions will be clarified only in larger studies, defining specific clinical settings, goals to achieve and standardizing the provision and funding modalities in the different countries.

Delirium Rates in Advanced Cancer Patients Admitted to Different Palliative Care Settings: Does It Make the Difference?

Background: Delirium in advanced cancer inpatient ranges between 13% and 85%. Reasons for this variability on the reported data could be related to the setting where they are admitted. Methods: This is an observational, comparative, prospective study on delirium diagnosis and delirium course of advanced cancer inpatients in two different palliative care settings. Hospice (C1) versus palliative care supportive team (C2). Differences between delirium precipitants, delirium treatment, and delirium survival were observed. Results: From 582 consecutive admissions, 494 from C1 and 88 from C2, finally 227 patients met inclusion criteria, were entered in the study. Total population delirium rate at admission, if we add both centers, was 57 patients (25%), 46 (26%) from C1 and 11 (22%) from C2; no statistically significant differences between delirium rate at admission between the two centers were found (χ2). When delirium course between delirious patients admitted in C1 and C2 was analyzed, a significantly higher rate of delirium reversibility was found in C2 [11/14 (78%)] versus [9/65 (14%)] in C1 (χ2p ≤ 0.001). Conclusion: The frequency of delirium at admission and during the hospitalization in advanced cancer patients does not seem to be related to the setting, what seems to be related is the delirium course.

The Path of Cicely Saunders: The "Peculiar Beauty" of Palliative Care.

This paper is aimed at focusing on the writings and the experience of the Hospice movement Founder, Dame Cicely Saunders. The in-depth analysis carried out had the objective of verifying if "the way" of Cicely to understand, live and propose palliative care was still current and "beautiful", so that we can nowadays refer to her fascinating "Original Palliative Care". With "beauty" we mean, on the one hand, a way able to allow a personal path of research of the meaning of the disease and of the care, both for those who care and for those who are cared for. On the other hand, it seems to us that Cicely strongly suggests how this path can not be carried out alone, but is only possible within the context of a network of relationships and support, in a so called "relational autonomy", for the patient, included in a "care ethics". The authors believe that the work extensively documents as the overall approach of Cicely, traditional but always to be rediscovered, is still today the most convincing way of conception and action of palliative care.

Palliative care for people living with heart failure: European Association for Palliative Care Task Force expert position statement.

Contrary to common perception, modern palliative care (PC) is applicable to all people with an incurable disease, not only cancer. PC is appropriate at every stage of disease progression, when PC needs emerge. These needs can be of physical, emotional, social, or spiritual nature. This document encourages the use of validated assessment tools to recognize such needs and ascertain efficacy of management. PC interventions should be provided alongside cardiologic management. Treating breathlessness is more effective, when cardiologic management is supported by PC interventions. Treating other symptoms like pain or depression requires predominantly PC interventions. Advance Care Planning aims to ensure that the future treatment and care the person receives is concordant with their personal values and goals, even after losing decision-making capacity. It should include also disease specific aspects, such as modification of implantable device activity at the end of life. The Whole Person Care concept describes the inseparability of the physical, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the human being. Addressing psychological and spiritual needs, together with medical treatment, maintains personal integrity and promotes emotional healing. Most PC concerns can be addressed by the usual care team, supported by a PC specialist if needed. During dying, the persons' needs may change dynamically and intensive PC is often required. Following the death of a person, bereavement services benefit loved ones. The authors conclude that the inclusion of PC within the regular clinical framework for people with heart failure results in a substantial improvement in quality of life as well as comfort and dignity whilst dying.

[Palliative care in the cardiac setting: a consensus document of the Italian Society of Cardiology/Italian Society of Palliative Care (SIC/SICP)]. / Documento di consenso sulle cure palliative in ambito cardiologico a cura del Gruppo di Lavoro congiunto della Società Italiana di Cardiologia (SIC) e della Società Italiana di Cure Palliative (SICP).

Palliative care is recognized as an approach that improves quality of life of patients and families facing life-threatening illnesses. This is achieved through prevention, early identification, assessment and treatment of symptoms and other psycho-social, spiritual and economic issues. Palliative care is not dependent on prognosis and can be delivered as "simultaneous care", together with disease-modifying treatments and adequate symptom relief. Palliative care relies on coordination across settings of care and offers open communication to patients and caregivers. Recently, there is increasing interest in the potential role of palliative care in refractory, advanced heart failure treated with optimal, maximized therapy.Heart failure is a chronic progressive syndrome characterized by periods of stability interrupted by acute exacerbations, usually leading to reduced functional status. It accounts for approximately one-third of deaths in industrialized countries and is a common cause of hospitalization. Fifty percent of patients with advanced heart failure die within 1 year of diagnosis and 50% of the remainder within 5 years. The trajectory of heart failure is often unpredictable and approximately 30% to 50% of patients die suddenly. Patients with heart failure suffer from numerous symptoms, often resistant to conventional treatments, frequently under-recognized and under-treated. Symptom assessment and control improve quality of life in patients with advanced heart failure; this can be managed at best by collaboration between specialistic teams.Although heart failure is a life-shortening condition, therapeutic and technological advances (such as left ventricular assist devices, coronary revascularization, percutaneous valve implantation, and implantable cardioverter defibrillators) can help healthcare professionals in the management of patients with advanced heart failure, improving global condition and reducing the risk of sudden death. On the other hand, it has to be acknowledged that management of cardiovascular implanted electronic devices towards end of life requires awareness of legal, ethical, religious principles regarding potential withdrawal of life-sustaining therapies.Adequate communication with patients regarding adverse events, end of life, benefits vs burdens of therapies and interventions, treatment preferences, and decision-making should be an issue in early stages of disease. The process of advanced care planning should be clearly documented and regularly reviewed.Barriers to the provision of palliative care in heart failure include clinical issues (disease trajectory), prognostic uncertainty, failure in identification of patients who need palliative care and timing of referral to specialist services, but also misconceptions of patients, families and sanitary staff regarding the role of palliative care, organization problems, and finally educational and time issues.This document focuses on the need of further, coordinated research and work-out on: (i) identification of heart failure patients eligible for palliative care, in terms of clinical and social-psychological issues, (ii) identification of trigger events and timing of referral; (iii) identification of adequate performance indicators/scales for measurement, assessment and follow-up of symptoms and quality of life in end-stage heart failure, including patient-reported outcome measures; (iv) treatment, care and organization strategies and models for advanced/end-stage heart failure ("care management"); and (v) implementation of knowledge and education of healthcare professionals in the fields of communication, ethics, and advanced care planning in heart failure.

Pharmacovigilance in hospice/palliative care: the net immediate and short-term effects of dexamethasone for anorexia.

OBJECTIVES: Loss of appetite is prevalent in palliative care and distressing for patients and families. Therapies include corticosteroids or progestogens. This study explores the net effect of dexamethasone on anorexia. METHODS: Prospective data were collected when dexamethasone was started for anorexia as part of routine care. The National Cancer Institute's Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (NCICTCAE) Likert scales assessed severity of anorexia and immediate and short-term harms at 2 time points: baseline and 7 days. RESULTS: This study (41 sites, 8 countries) collected data (July 2013 to July 2014) from 114 patients (mean age 71 (SD 11), 96% with cancer). Median Australian-modified Karnofsky Performance Scale was 50% (range 20-70). Mean baseline NCICTCAE anorexia score was 2.7 (SD 0.6; median 3). 6 patients died by day 7. Of 108 evaluable patients, 74 (68.5%; 95% CI 59.0% to 76.7%) reported ≥1 reduction anorexia scores by day 7, of whom 30 were 0. Mean dexamethasone dose on day 7 was 4.1 mg/day (SD 3.4; median 4; range 0-46 mg). 24 patients reported ≥1 harms (32.4% CI 22.6% to 44.1%; insomnia n=10, depression n=7, euphoria n=7 and hyperglycaemia n=7). Of 24 patients with no benefit, 10 reported ≥1 harms. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows positive and negative effects of 7 days of dexamethasone as an appetite stimulant in patients with advanced life-limiting illnesses. Identifying clinicodemographic characteristics of people most at risk of harms with no benefit is a crucial next step. Longer term follow-up will help to understand longer term and cumulative harms.

Using sociodrama and psychodrama to teach communication in end-of-life care.

End-of-life discussions can be stressful and can elicit strong emotions in the provider as well as the patient and family. In palliative care, understanding and effectively addressing emotions is a key skill that can enhance professional competency and patient/family satisfaction with care. We illustrate how in coursework for a Master's degree in palliative medicine we used dramatic "action methods" derived from sociodrama and psychodrama in the portrayal of two challenging cases to train providers in the emotional aspects of caring for patients with advanced cancer. We describe the specific techniques of constructing and enacting case scenarios using warm-ups, role-creation, doubling and role-reversal. In particular, we illustrate how these techniques and others were used to reveal and address the "hidden" emotions, attitudes, and values that were central to the communication dilemma. Finally, we present an evaluation completed by the 26 participants who attended the course.

Human myeloma cells stimulate the receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (RANKL) in T lymphocytes: a potential role in multiple myeloma bone disease.

The biologic mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of multiple myeloma (MM) bone disease are not completely understood. Recent evidence suggests that T cells may regulate bone resorption through the cross-talk between the critical osteoclastogenetic factor, receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappaB ligand (RANKL), and interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) that strongly suppresses osteoclastogenesis. Using a coculture transwell system we found that human myeloma cell lines (HMCLs) increased the expression and secretion of RANKL in activated T lymphocytes and similarly purified MM cells stimulated RANKL production in autologous T lymphocytes. In addition, either anti-interleukin 6 (anti-IL-6) or anti-IL-7 antibody inhibited HMCL-induced RANKL overexpression. Consistently, we demonstrated that HMCLs and fresh MM cells express IL-7 mRNA and secrete IL-7 in the presence of IL-6 and that bone marrow (BM) IL-7 levels were significantly higher in patients with MM. Moreover, we found that the release of IFN-gamma by T lymphocytes was reduced in presence of both HMCLs and purified MM cells. Furthermore, in a stromal cell-free system, osteoclastogenesis was stimulated by conditioned medium of T cells cocultured with HMCLs and inhibited by recombinant human osteoprotegerin (OPG; 100 ng/mL to 1 microg/mL). Finally, RANKL mRNA was up-regulated in BM T lymphocytes of MM patients with severe osteolytic lesions, suggesting that T cells could be involved at least in part in MM-induced osteolysis through the RANKL overexpression.