Purpose: To investigate the characteristics of sudden abdominal condition change that occur in a palliative care unit, we evaluated the association between these conditions and family acceptance at time of death. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 30 terminally ill cancer patients who died of sudden abdominal condition change in our unit between January 2010 and March 2013. We focused particularly on the course of sudden change, symptom relief, explanation of the condition, and family acceptance at time of death. Results: The average time from onset of sudden change in abdominal condition until death was 20.6 hours and the median was 13 hours. Of the 30 total cases, 23 occurred in less than 24 hours. Frequent symptoms during the sudden change were abdominal pain in 28 patients, decreased blood pressure in 21, lowering of consciousness in 12 and disturbed behavior/excitement in 10. Impending symptoms were observed in 18 patients. For patients with good acceptance by family at time of death (21 patients), symptom relief was significantly better, frequency of disturbed behavior/excitement was significantly less, and prior specific explanation was significantly frequent, compared to the poor acceptance group (9 patients). The good acceptance group tended to be have a longer hospital stay, as well as longer time between sudden change and death. Conclusions: Death by sudden abdominal condition change came within 24 hours in a majority of cases. We consider that prior detailed explanation and improving symptom relief helps improve family acceptance.

Purpose: We evaluated the significance of support for leaving the palliative care unit temporarily in end-stage terminally ill cancer patients. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 27 terminally ill cancer patients who died within 15 days after leaving our palliative care unit temporarily, between January 2011 and December 2012, and distributed a questionnaire to their bereaved family. Results: The age of the patients ranged from 29 to 91 years. Ten patients left the unit without stay and 17 left overnight. The destination of 24 patients was their home, while three had other destinations. For 11 patients, the main purpose of leaving the unit was to finish business, and for 9, was to see their houses once again. After returning to the hospital, the comments of 15 patients were affirmative, and those of 6 were negative. Questionnaire responses were obtained from 18 persons. Families reported anxiety regarding and difficulty with adaptation to the sudden change when the patients left the unit, apparatus support, patient transfer, and patient care. Conclusions: It was useful for the terminally ill cancer patients and their families to receive support when leaving the palliative care unit temporarily. Strategies to cope with the sudden change at the time of leaving the unit could help families feel reassured and secure.

Purpose: To investigate the indications for use of the Japanese version of the Liverpool Care Pathway (LCP), we evaluated the conditions of patients using and those not using the LCP. Methods: We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 71 LCP patients and 60 non－LCP patients who died in our palliative care unit between March and December 2013. Results: There was no significant difference in patients’ background between the LCP and non－LCP groups. For patients in the non－LCP group, sudden changes in condition were significantly more frequent and deep continuous sedation was used significantly less than in the LCP group. In the LCP group, the average duration on the LCP was 4.0 days, and the beginning criterion was met by three－point or more of all the patients. The initial assessment was achieved except for one case. In the non－LCP group, reasons for not using the LCP were a sudden change in condition (35 patients), a rapid change in medical condition (14), and a risk of falling (4). Conclusions: The LCP met the beginning criterion and was started at suitable time in the LCP group. The LCP is not useful for all patients; it cannot be used for a patient with sudden or rapid changes in condition, or at a risk of falling.

Purpose：We evaluated that the current state from which a palliative care unit receives emergency admission of cancer patients at home. Methods：We retrospectively investigated the medical records of 393 cancer patients who hospitalized in our unit between January 2013 and December 2014. The patients were shared with a group of two, schedule admission (schedule group) and emergency admission (emergency group), and it was compared with a result on discharge and with a hospitalization period. We investigated admission process, the date and time of admission, and reason for admission in emergency group. Results：The number of patients was 224 of schedule group and 169 of emergency group. The mortality rates were 81% in schedule group and 78% in emergency group (not significant). An emergency group for an average of 24.3 days was shorter for 9 days than schedule groups in a hospitalization period of dead leaving patients (p<0.05). In emergency group, admission process included 128 completed-interviews with the hospitalization, 11 incompleted-interviews before admission and 30 first visits, and 129 patients (76％) admitted within the weekday daytime. Many patients had a complaint of severe pain, appetite loss and oral absorption difficulty, and so much. Conclusions：An emergency group admitted the various processes and the much symptom. There were a lot of cases of early hospital death, but also admitted return at home, and our unit played the role of emergency admission.

Objective: To develop and confirm the validity of a Biological Prognostic Score using only blood test results for prediction of prognosis in patients with advanced cancer. Methods: We conducted parametric survival time analysis using blood test results, age, sex, and primary diagnosis as independent variables, and event of death as a dependent variable, among patients in a palliative care unit (a development cohort). We then developed the Biological Prognostic Score (BPS). Thereafter, we confirmed the accuracy of the BPS and the Palliative Prognostic Index (PPI) prospectively among patients, who withdrew or withheld further curative or life-prolonging therapies, in other facilities (a validation cohort). Results: We developed the BPS, which consists of cholinesterase, blood urea nitrogen, and total iron-binding capacity, from 122 patients in a development cohort. We then examined 195 patients in a validation cohort and found that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for 1-9 week survival prediction was BPS=0.76-0.86 and PPI=0.69-0.73. Discussion: Our results suggest that the BPS was valid. It will be necessary to perform further examinations in multiple facilities and to explore more generalized parameters that could replace total iron-binding capacity in our BPS.

A 59-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with severe mitral incompetence. Mitral valve repair, tricuspid annuloplasty and the Maze procedure were performed. After weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass, his systolic blood pressure (SBP) dropped to 40 mmHg. Immediate administration of catecholamines markedly increased SBP but his continuing low blood pressure required additional treatment with vasopressin and hydrocortisone. On postoperative day 12 in the general ward, he suddenly lapsed into an intractable hypoglycemic coma. Endocrine function tests revealed adrenocorticotropic hormone deficiency. Since the time of writing has been doing well with 20 mg of hydrocortisone.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO) is considered to be involved in the pathogenesis of functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID). However, the prevalence and clinical conditions of SIBO in patients with FGID remain to be fully elucidated. Here, we examined the frequency of SIBO in patients with refractory FGID. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled patients with refractory FGID based on Rome III criteria. A glucose hydrogen breath test (GHBT) was performed using a gas analyzer after an overnight fast, with breath hydrogen concentration measured at baseline and every 15 minutes after administration of glucose for a total of 3 hours. A peak hydrogen value > or = 10 ppm above the basal value between 60 and 120 minutes after administration of glucose was diagnosed as SIBO. RESULTS: A total of 38 FGID patients, including 11 with functional dyspepsia (FD), 10 with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and 17 with overlapping with FD and IBS, were enrolled. Of those, 2 (5.3%) were diagnosed with SIBO (one patient diagnosed with FD; the other with overlapping FD and IBS). Their symptoms were clearly improved and breath hydrogen levels decreased to normal following levofloxacin administration for 7 days. CONCLUSIONS: Two patients initially diagnosed with FD and IBS were also diagnosed with SIBO as assessed by GHBT. Although the frequency of SIBO is low among patients with FGID, it may be important to be aware of SIBO as differential diagnosis when examining patients with refractory gastrointestinal symptoms, especially bloating, as a part of routine clinical care.
Adult ; Blind Loop Syndrome ; Breath Tests ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Dyspepsia ; Gastrointestinal Diseases* ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hydrogen ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Levofloxacin ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies