A Protocol for the Control of Agitation in Palliative Care.
BACKGROUND
Agitation is a distressing and dangerous behavior for all involved.


OBJECTIVE
To study a protocol effectiveness and safety.


METHODS
The time when the protocol was initiated and when the agitation was controlled, the number of doses needed and the complications observed were recorded.


RESULTS
One hundred and thirty-five inpatients of a palliative care service were included. The most frequent diagnosis was head and neck cancer, 37 (27%). The protocol was used 584 times, from 1 to 31 times on each patient, median of 3 times. Five hundred and thirty-four (91%) agitation episodes were controlled with only the first dose of the protocol, without significant complications.


CONCLUSIONS
From those results, it can be said that this protocol is effective and safe.
Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal ferrazg@ipoporto.min-saude.pt.
Ferraz
F
Gonçalves
Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal.
Ana
A
Almeida
Portuguese Institute of Oncology, Porto, Portugal.
Sara
S
Pereira
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006220:Haloperidol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D011595:Psychomotor Agitation / Q000188:drug therapy*
D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D006220:Haloperidol; D008874:Midazolam
agitation; delirium; haloperidol; midazolam; palliative care