Palliative Sedation: The Current Practice of a Hospital Palliative Care Team
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24950/rspmi.2653Keywords:
Deep Sedation, Midazolam, Palliative Care, Terminal CareAbstract
Introduction: In advanced disease contexts, palliative sedation can be a vital intervention for controlling symptoms that are resistant to conventional therapies, ultimately alleviating patient suffering.
Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined all patients treated by an in-hospital palliative care team who received palliative sedation during the year 2022.
Results: Of the 484 patients analyzed, 55 (11%) underwent palliative sedation. The majority were male (69%) with a mean age of 70 years. Oncology patients comprised 71% of the cohort, while 26% had non-oncological conditions. The primary indication for sedation was terminal restlessness (47%), with midazolam being the predominant medication used. The median time from sedation to end of life was 32.5 hours, with 65% of patients dying within 48 hours. No statistically significant differences were observed between oncological and non-oncological patients regarding age, maximum midazolam dose, mortality within 48 hours, or median survival. There was a tendency to use higher doses of midazolam in patients with lung cancer.
Conclusion: Palliative sedation serves as a therapeutic option for cases where symptomatic control remains unattainable through conventional methods. Ongoing research is necessary to evaluate the effects of palliative sedation across various care settings.
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