The Association between Longtime Hospitalization and End-of-Life Care in Advanced Cancer Patients

There were no reports about long survival predictors in palliative care settings. We divided categories into more than 31 days of hospitalization (short period hospitalization) and more than 61 days of hospitalization) (long hospitalization) and analyzed prognostic factors in multivariate methods. We measured the association between the long hospitalization and short period hospitalization groups with regard to terminal symptoms (cancer pain, delirium, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, and dyspnea) and treatment (hydration, continuous sedation, and opioids). In the more than 31 days of hospitalization group, sex (Odds Ratio 0.502), consciousness (Odds Ratio 0.258), and calcium levels (Odds Ratio 0.559) were statistically significant. In the more than 61 days of hospitalization group, the serum CRP level (Odds Ratio 0.254) was statistically significant and serum calcium level (Odds Ratio 0.376) exhibited a trend. The prevalence of fatigue and amount of hydration were significantly low in the more than 31 days of hospitalization group. There were no differences in terminal symptoms and treatment in the more than 61 days of hospitalization group.

A Retrospective Analysis of Early Death after Admission in Advanced Cancer Patients at the End-of-life in Single-institution

<p>Little is known about early death after admission during the terminal phase in advanced cancer patients. We retrospectively analyzed data from 510 advanced cancer patients who were at the end-of-life between August 2011 and August 2016, and found that 83 patients (16.3%) died within 3 days after admission to our institute. We divided the deceased patients into those who died within 3 days (early death group) and those who died after more than 4 days (non-early death group) after admission. Prevalence of delirium, cancer pain, dyspnea, nausea and vomiting, and fatigue patients showed no significant differences. Mean hydration at the end of life was significantly more per infusion for early death group than non-early death group. Continuous sedation and mean opioid use was significantly less for early death group than non-early death group. The risk factor of age, sex, clinical stage, histological state, overtreatment of chemotherapy, comorbidity had no significant associated with early death. The primary site of cancer, the number of metastatic sites, the consciousness level, and the performance status might be predictors for early death after admission in advanced cancer patients at the end-of-life.</p>

Efficacy of palliative radiation for advanced gastric cancer patients

We have several choices against bleeding and obstruction in advanced gastric cancer patients such as surgical or endoscopic therapy. But we have few reports about palliative radiation. We conduct this study that we perform palliative radiation for unresectable advanced gastric cancer patients between April 2006 and March 2014 in single center. In the aim of the therapy, to stop gastric bleeding were 8, and to improve obstruction depend on gastric cancer were 4. Response rate of stop bleeding was 63％, and improve obstruction was 50％. Median duration of stop bleeding was 103 day, and improve obstruction was 52 day. Overall survival time was 567 day, survival time after the start of radiotherapy was 105days. Radiotherapy was limited in cases because onset time of response needed in comparison with surgical or endoscopic therapy. However, given minimally invasive therapy and a certain response, we can choice it so much more.