Palliative Care Symptom Management.
Aggressively managing the symptoms of patients with critical life-limiting illness or terminal disease can improve the quality of life for patients and loved ones, regardless of how much time they have remaining. Palliative symptom management approaches disease in a holistic manner, addressing not only the physical aspect of symptoms but also the psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions of suffering for total symptom relief. Pain is the most common reason for critical care palliative consultation, and using the World Health Organization Pain Ladder to systematically quantify, treat, and titrate pain is effective. Options include both pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment.
Palliative Care, Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100238, Gainesville, FL 32610-0238, USA. Electronic address: skitte@ufl.edu.
Sheri M
SM
Kittelson
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Florida, 1515 Southwest Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608, USA; Department of Critical Care, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA; Department of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Marie-Carmelle
MC
Elie
Palliative Care Program, North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, Malcom Randall VA Medical Center, University of Florida, 1601 Southwest Archer Road (11F), Gainesville, FL 32608-1197, USA.
Leslye
L
Pennypacker
D016638:Critical Illness; D064946:Hospice and Palliative Care Nursing; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D013727:Terminal Care
Dyspnea; Hospice; Pain; Palliative care; Symptom management