1.A Retrospective Analysis of Early Death after Admission in Advanced Cancer Patients at the End-of-life in Single-institution
Tetsuo Hori ; Shuji Hiramoto ; Ayako Kikuchi ; Akira Yoshioka ; Tomoko Tamaki
Palliative Care Research 2017;12(4):747-752
Little is known about early death after admission during the terminal phase in advanced cancer patients. We retrospectively analyzed data from 510 advanced cancer patients who were at the end-of-life between August 2011 and August 2016, and found that 83 patients (16.3%) died within 3 days after admission to our institute. We divided the deceased patients into those who died within 3 days (early death group) and those who died after more than 4 days (non-early death group) after admission. Prevalence of delirium, cancer pain, dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue patients showed no significant differences. Mean hydration at the end of life was significantly more per infusion for early death group than non-early death group. Continuous sedation and mean opioid use was significantly less for early death group than non-early death group. The risk factor of age, sex, clinical stage, histological state, overtreatment of chemotherapy, comorbidity had no significant associated with early death. The primary site of cancer, the number of metastatic sites, the consciousness level, and the performance status might be predictors for early death after admission in advanced cancer patients at the end-of-life.
2.Efficacy of palliative radiation for advanced gastric cancer patients
Shuji Hiramoto ; Ayako Kikuchi ; Akira Yoshioka ; Yuka Otsu ; Yasushi Kohigashi ; Yoko Goto ; Yurie Tsutsumi ; Masahiro Hiraoka ; Koji Ono
Palliative Care Research 2015;10(2):514-517
We have several choices against bleeding and obstruction in advanced gastric cancer patients such as surgical or endoscopic therapy. But we have few reports about palliative radiation. We conduct this study that we perform palliative radiation for unresectable advanced gastric cancer patients between April 2006 and March 2014 in single center. In the aim of the therapy, to stop gastric bleeding were 8, and to improve obstruction depend on gastric cancer were 4. Response rate of stop bleeding was 63%, and improve obstruction was 50%. Median duration of stop bleeding was 103 day, and improve obstruction was 52 day. Overall survival time was 567 day, survival time after the start of radiotherapy was 105days. Radiotherapy was limited in cases because onset time of response needed in comparison with surgical or endoscopic therapy. However, given minimally invasive therapy and a certain response, we can choice it so much more.
3.The Association between Longtime Hospitalization and End-of-Life Care in Advanced Cancer Patients
Ayako KIKUCHI ; Shuji HIRAMOTO ; Tetsuo HORI ; Akira YOSHIOKA ; Kengo NAGASHIMA
Palliative Care Research 2018;13(4):335-340
There were no reports about long survival predictors in palliative care settings. We divided categories into more than 31 days of hospitalization (short period hospitalization) and more than 61 days of hospitalization) (long hospitalization) and analyzed prognostic factors in multivariate methods. We measured the association between the long hospitalization and short period hospitalization groups with regard to terminal symptoms (cancer pain, delirium, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and dyspnea) and treatment (hydration, continuous sedation, and opioids). In the more than 31 days of hospitalization group, sex (Odds Ratio 0.502), consciousness (Odds Ratio 0.258), and calcium levels (Odds Ratio 0.559) were statistically significant. In the more than 61 days of hospitalization group, the serum CRP level (Odds Ratio 0.254) was statistically significant and serum calcium level (Odds Ratio 0.376) exhibited a trend. The prevalence of fatigue and amount of hydration were significantly low in the more than 31 days of hospitalization group. There were no differences in terminal symptoms and treatment in the more than 61 days of hospitalization group.
4.Rapid Manual Drainage of Ascites in a Home Visit Setting
Kiyofumi OYA ; Akiko FUKUDA ; Hideto SATO ; Rie TOKUTANI ; Jun HAMANO ; Naosuke YOKOMICHI ; Hiroto ISHIKI ; Shunsuke OYAMADA ; Shuji HIRAMOTO
Palliative Care Research 2024;19(3):163-168
Abdominal paracentesis is a standard intervention for symptom relief in patients with ascites; however, there is no established agreement regarding the optimal speed of ascites drainage. This paper presents three cases of rapid manual drainage of ascites (RMDA) conducted during home visits: a 72 year-old male with intractable cirrhosis, a 73 year-old male with malignant ascites secondary to cancer of the pancreatic tail, and a 54 year-old male suffering from malignant ascites due to pancreatic tail cancer with hepatic metastases. Drainage volumes ranged from 1.4 to 3 liters, with procedures taking between 12 to 14 minutes. Post-procedure systolic blood pressures were maintained above 90 mmHg at immediate, 2 (±1) hours, and 24 (±12) hours following the procedure in all cases. No severe adverse events were reported. RMDA may offer a reduced procedural time in the home visit context, lessening patient discomfort and healthcare provider costs. Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety of RMDA in home care settings.