With the rapid acceleration of aging in China, there is a huge need for elderly patients to have improved quality of life in the terminal stage.Palliative sedation is an integral part of palliative care and can alleviate painful refractory symptoms, and its use in patients in various terminal illnesses is being explored across the world.Attention is focused on its indications and implementation.In China, palliative sedation in clinical practice is in an early exploratory stage and relevant criteria and guidelines have yet to be established.A review of the current practice and research progress concerning palliative sedation for patients' end-of-life care in China and the rest of the world will offer insight and strategic considerations in the initial pursuit and accelerated acceptance in the future in China.

Pain is a prevalent symptom in both cancer and non-cancer end-stage diseases, often being the most feared by patients and significantly impacting their quality of life.Hospice care aims to address physical, psychological, spiritual, and other needs of patients and their families during this stage, with a focus on alleviating pain and discomfort.Effective pain management is a crucial component of hospice care, particularly given the increasing prevalence of cancer and chronic diseases in China and the growing elderly population.To provide analgesic management for hospice patients, a thorough assessment of pain is essential to identify its type and characteristics.Treatment approaches may include etiological interventions, pharmacotherapy, interventional therapy, physiotherapy, psychotherapy, and comfort care, all aimed at achieving comprehensive pain management.The use of opioid should be carefully guided by scientific principles to minimize adverse effects and optimize pain relief, ultimately enhancing patients' end-of-life quality of life.