Louie John C.

Abila BSN-3

Emergencies in Palliative Care

Dirk MD, PhD; van Frank MD
The Cancer Journal:September-October 2010 - Volume 16
- Issue 5 - p 514-520

 Abstract

Palliative care emergencies are emergencies in patients

with an incurable disease that may lead to death or
decreased quality of life. During the palliative care phase of
a patient's life, they differ from other medical emergencies
and are mainly focusing on symptom control, whereas
disease-oriented treatments are less important. Palliative
care emergencies can occur on the physical, emotional,
and existential field. They involve not only the patient but
also the family and sometimes the health care professional.
Palliative care emergencies that are addressed are pain,
acute dyspnea, major bleeding, acute function loss, acute
anxiety, delirium, epileptic seizures, acute decompensation
with aggressive behavior of the nonprofessional caregiver,
and planning for predictable emergencies.

2010 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.

https://journals.lww.com/journalppo/Abstract/2010/090
00/Emergencies_in_Palliative_Care.15.aspx