[Quality of life is the most important goal of nutritional support of the dying].
In early palliative stages effective nutrition can improve well-being. In late stages and in dying patients excessive amounts of proteins and lipids may induce nausea and vomiting, due to cachexia and subsequent changes in the metabolism. Excessive hydration may give rise to oedema and dyspnoea. In these late stages the patient rarely feels hungry or thirsty. The goal should therefore be to do good, not to harm and to respect the autonomy of the patient. Thus, the well-being of the patient should be in focus: to avoid hunger, thirst, nausea, vomiting, oedemas and dyspnoea. The consequences are that small amounts of carbohydrates and water often constitute the optimum for these patients.
Strang
P
P
Palliativa forskningsenheten, Linköpings universitet, Vrinnevisjukhuset, Norrköping.
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates / Q000008:administration & dosage; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018529:Nutritional Support / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011788:Quality of Life; D013727:Terminal Care; D014867:Water / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004040:Dietary Carbohydrates; D014867:Water