Palliative Care During COVID-19: Data and Visits From Loved Ones.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care
; 37(11): 988-991, 2020 Nov.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-670541
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES:
A vital component of the coronavirus response is care of the dying COVID-19 patient. We document the demographics, symptoms experienced, medications required, effectiveness observed, and challenges to high-quality holistic palliative care in 31 patients. This will aid colleagues in primary and secondary care settings anticipate common symptoms and formulate management plans.METHODS:
A retrospective survey was conducted of patients referred to the hospital palliative care service in a tertiary hospital, south east of England between March 21 and April 26, 2020. Patients included had a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 via reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-Cov-2 or radiological evidence of COVID-19.RESULTS:
The thirty-one patients included were predominantly male (77%), elderly (median [interquartile range] 84 [76-89]), and had multiple (4 [3-5]) comorbidities. Referral was made in the last 2 [1-3] days of life. Common symptoms were breathlessness (84%) and delirium (77%). Fifty-eight percent of patients received at least 1 "as required" dose of an opioid or midazolam in the 24 hours before death. Sixty percent of patients needed a continuous subcutaneous infusion and the median morphine dose was 10 mg S/C per 24 hours and midazolam 10 mg S/C per 24 hours. Nineteen percent of our cohort had a loved one or relative present when dying.CONCLUSION:
We provide additional data to the internationally reported pool examining death arising from infection with SARS-CoV-19. The majority of patients had symptoms controlled with low doses of morphine and midazolam, and death was rapid. The impact of low visitation during dying needs exploring.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Palliative Care
/
Pneumonia, Viral
/
Visitors to Patients
/
Coronavirus Infections
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
Topics:
Traditional medicine
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
Language:
English
Journal:
Am J Hosp Palliat Care
Journal subject:
Nursing
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
1049909120943577
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