Managing respiratory symptoms at the end of life.
Early and clear discussion and articulation of preferences about interventions with increasing burdens and diminishing benefits is helpful in identifying the goals of care and planning management for patients who have unremitting terminal illnesses. The development of respiratory symptoms such as dyspnea, cough, and hiccups is common and can often be anticipated. Aggressive evaluation and treatment should be pursued and offered to palliate symptoms at the end of life.
Unified Division of Geriatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, 111 East 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. lajacobs@montefiore.org
Laurie G
LG
Jacobs
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D012121:Respiration, Artificial; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome