Children and Adolescent Solid Tumours and High-Intensity End-Of-Life Care: What Can Be Done to Reduce Acute Care Admissions?

Title

Children and Adolescent Solid Tumours and High-Intensity End-Of-Life Care: What Can Be Done to Reduce Acute Care Admissions?

Creator

Podda MG; Schiavello E; Clerici CA; Luksch R; Terenziani M; Ferrari A; Casanova M; Spreafico F; Meazza C; Biassoni V; Chiaravalli S; Puma N; Bergamaschi L; Gattuso G; Sironi G; Nigro O; Massimino M

Publisher

BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care

Date

2021

Subject

terminal care; quality of life; paediatrics; supportive care; brain

Description

Despite improvements in survival, cancer remains the leading cause of non-accidental death in children and adolescents, who risk receiving high-intensity end-of-life (HI-EOL) care. OBJECTIVE: To analyse treatments for relapses (particularly in the last weeks of life), assess their impact on the EOL, identify patients most likely to receive HI-EOL care and examine whether palliative care services can contain the intensity of EOL care. METHODS: This retrospective study involved patients treated at the paediatric oncology unit of the Istituto Nazionale Tumori in Milan who died between 2018 and 2020. The primary outcome was HI-EOL care, defined as: ≥1 session of intravenous chemotherapy <14 days before death; ≥1 hospitalisation in intensive care in the last 30 days of life and ≥1 emergency room admission in the last 30 days of life. RESULTS: The study concerned 68 patients, and 17 had HI-EOL care. Patients given specific in-hospital treatments in the last 14 days of their life more frequently died in hospital. Those given aggressive EOL care were less likely to die at home or in the hospice. Patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumours were more likely to have treatments requiring hospitalisation, and to receive HI-EOL care. CONCLUSION: These results underscore the importance of considering specific treatments at the EOL with caution. Treatments should be administered at home whenever possible.The early activation of palliative care, especially for fragile and complicated patients like those with CNS cancers, could help families cope with the many problems they face.

Rights

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Citation List Month

2021 Special Edition - Oncology

Citation

Podda MG; Schiavello E; Clerici CA; Luksch R; Terenziani M; Ferrari A; Casanova M; Spreafico F; Meazza C; Biassoni V; Chiaravalli S; Puma N; Bergamaschi L; Gattuso G; Sironi G; Nigro O; Massimino M, “Children and Adolescent Solid Tumours and High-Intensity End-Of-Life Care: What Can Be Done to Reduce Acute Care Admissions?,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed March 29, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/18986.