Nationwide Study of Continuous Deep Sedation Practices Among Pediatric Palliative Care Teams
Benzodiazepines; Continuous Deep Sedation; Decision Making; Palliative Care Pediatrics; Sedation
Context Palliative sedation practices evolved in France when the Claeys-Leonetti law passed in 2016 authorized patient-requested continuous deep sedation (CDS) until death. Its implementation in the pediatric setting is less frequently encountered and can pose several clinical and ethical challenges for healthcare teams and families. Objectives Our study aimed to describe CDS requests and practices of patients receiving specialized pediatric palliative care in France since its legalization in 2016. Methods We conducted a nationwide multicentric, descriptive, retrospective study using a self-report questionnaire completed by all Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) Teams that were involved in a CDS case between January 2017 and December 2019. Results Six PPC teams had cared for six patients that had requested CDS, predominantly male adolescents/young adults diagnosed with a solid tumour. The refractory symptoms were diverse (pain, bleeding, sensory loss) and always coupled with psycho-existential suffering. Each request was analyzed in multidisciplinary collegial meetings. Parental consent was always obtained regardless of age. Sedation typically required the use of multiple drugs including Midazolam (n=5 cases), Chlorpromazine (n=3), Ketamine (n=2) and Propofol (n=2). Despite close monitoring, achieving a satisfactory level of deep sedation was challenging and most patients unexpectedly awoke during CDS. Death occurred between 27 and 96 hours after induction. Conclusion Managing patient-requested CDS in pediatrics is challenging due to its rarity, multi-factorial refractory symptoms and drug tolerance despite polytherapy. Few recommendations exist to guide CDS practice for pediatricians. Further studies investigating pediatric CDS practices across various cultural and legal settings, refractory symptom management and specific pharmacology are warranted.
Ridley A; Vial-Cholley E; Robert G; Jounis-Jahan F; Lervat C; Viallard ML; Frache S; Cojean N
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
2022
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.12.006" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.12.006</a>
Nationwide Study of Continuous Deep Sedation Practices Among Pediatric Palliative Care Teams
Deep Sedation; Pediatrics; Terminal Care; Adolescent; Child; Female; Humans; Hypnotics and Sedatives/tu [Therapeutic Use]; Male; Palliative Care; Retrospective Studies
Abstract Context: Palliative sedation practices evolved in France when the Claeys-Leonetti law passed in 2016 authorized patient-requested continuous deep sedation (CDS) until death. Its implementation in the pediatric setting is less frequently encountered and can pose several clinical and ethical challenges for health care teams and families. Objectives: Our study aimed to describe CDS requests and practices of patients receiving specialized pediatric palliative care in France since its legalization in 2016. Methods: We conducted a nationwide multicentric, descriptive, retrospective study using a self-report questionnaire completed by all Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC) Teams that were involved in a CDS case between January 2017 and December 2019. Results: Six PPC teams had cared for six patients that had requested CDS, predominantly male adolescents/young adults diagnosed with a solid tumour. The refractory symptoms were diverse (pain, bleeding, and sensory loss) and always coupled with psycho-existential suffering. Each request was analyzed in multidisciplinary collegial meetings. Parental consent was always obtained regardless of age. Sedation typically required the use of multiple drugs including Midazolam (n = 5 cases), Chlorpromazine (n = 3), Ketamine (n = 2), and Propofol (n = 2). Despite close monitoring, achieving a satisfactory level of deep sedation was challenging and most patients unexpectedly awoke during CDS. Death occurred between 27 and 96 hours after induction. Conclusion: Managing patient-requested CDS in pediatrics is challenging due to its rarity, multi-factorial refractory symptoms and drug tolerance despite polytherapy. Few recommendations exist to guide CDS practice for pediatricians. Further studies investigating pediatric CDS practices across various cultural and legal settings, refractory symptom management and specific pharmacology are warranted.
Ridley A; Vial-Cholley E; Robert G; Jounis-Jahan F; Lervat C; Betremieux P; Viallard ML; Frache S; Cojean N
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
2023
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
<a href="http://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.12.006" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.12.006</a>
Palliative Care After Neonatal Intensive Care: Contributions Of Leonetti Law And Remaining Challenges
Newborn Intensive Care; Palliative Therapy; Patient Right; Terminal Care; Artificial Feeding; Brain Damage; Climate; Clinical Practice; Clinical Study; Decision Making; Drug Withdrawal; Dying; Emotion; Ethics; Health Promotion; Human; Human Dignity; Hydration; Life Sustaining Treatment; Medical Decision Making; Medical Ethics; Medical Practice; Neonatology; Newborn; Palliative Therapy; Perinatal Care; Perinatal Nursing; Quality Of Life; Short Survey; Survival; Terminal Care; Treatment Withdrawal
Kuhn P; Dillenseger L; Cojean N; Escande B; Zores C; Astruc D
Archives De Pediatrie
2017
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
10.1016/j.arcped.2016.11.012