Current Use of Sedatives for Terminal Cancer Patients near Death Receiving Home Palliative Care, and Influence on Home Care Period
- VernacularTitle:在宅終末期がん患者に対する臨死期における鎮静薬使用の実態と在宅療養期間への影響
- Author:
Kotaro HASHIMOTO
1
;
Kazuki SATO
2
;
Mitsuharu SASAKI
3
;
Hiroaki TAKABAYASHI
4
;
Masanori KAWAHARA
4
;
Masao SUZUKI
4
Author Information
- Keywords: palliative care; home care; specialized home care clinic; sedation; home care period
- From:Palliative Care Research 2019;14(3):187-192
- CountryJapan
- Language:Japanese
- Abstract: Objective: This study investigated the association between use of sedatives in terminal cancer patients near death who were receiving home care and the home care period. Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of the medical records for 1032 cancer patients who received home palliative care from 17 specialized home care clinics between June and November 2013. We checked the use of sedatives within 48 hours before death at home, and we compared the home care period between patients with and without sedation. Results: The sedatives used were diazepam (n, %: 100, 52%), flunitrazepam (29, 15%), bromazepam (27, 14%), midazolam (26, 13%), and phenobarbital (20, 10%). The median home care period (median [quartiles]) was 26 [13, 63] days and 25 [10, 64] days (Adj p=0.79) for the patients with and without sedatives, respectively. Conclusion: Among terminal cancer patients near death receiving home care, 24% were administered sedatives, with more than half of those patients receiving diazepam. There was no association between use of sedatives and the home care period.
