[Palliative care of patients with terminal obstructive pulmonary disease].
Terminal chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and advanced cancer have similar prognosis and symptom burden. However, palliative care of patients with terminal COPD has been neglected in Denmark. We describe the symptoms of terminal COPD and suggest criteria for defining the palliative phase of the disease. Furthermore we discuss the prognostic and ethical challenges for patients, their families and their caregivers. Finally, we summarize the current evidence for palliative treatment of dyspnoea and ways to evaluate response to treatment.
Lunge- og infektionsmedicinsk Afdeling, Hillerød Hospital, Dyrehavevej 29, 3400 Hillerød, Denmark. cple@hih.regionh.dk
Christian
C
von Plessen
Thyge L
TL
Nielsen
Ida E
IE
Steffensen
Shuruk Al-Halwai
SA
Larsen
Ebbe
E
Taudorf
D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003718:Denmark; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D011368:Professional-Family Relations; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011379:Prognosis; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000628:therapy*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration