Continuous Palliative Sedation Therapy
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Palliative Care Files Continuous palliative sedation therapy Anna Voeuk MD CCFP Doreen Oneschuk MD CCFP lthough various defnitions of palliative sedation exist, medications used, there is no evidence for the recom- Ain general, it is accepted to be mendation of one particular medication over another for CPST.2,3 However, sedating neuroleptic or antipsychotic 1) the use of (a) pharmacological agent(s) to reduce medications and benzodiazepines are the most com- consciousness; 2) reserved for treatment of intoler- monly used, while barbiturates and propofol are used able and refractory symptoms; and 3) only consid- only occasionally1,3,7 In general, the lowest necessary ered in a patient who has been diagnosed with an level of sedation to provide adequate relief of suffering,3 advanced progressive illness.1 or proportionate sedation, should be implemented. It is important to note that opioids should not be used for Although there are various types of sedation, includ- palliative sedation, as the high doses required for seda- ing intermittent and respite sedation, and sedation as tion will inevitably lead to opioid-induced neurotoxic- a side effect of medications such as opioids,2 continu- ity and possible respiratory depression.1,7 However, they ous palliative sedation therapy (CPST) at or near the should be continued if used to manage other symptoms end of life is the focus of this article. Continuous pallia- such as pain and dyspnea. tive sedation therapy is the use of ongoing sedation for symptom management, considered during the end of Case 1: nonreversible refractory life when a patient is close to death (ie, within hours or agitated delirium days3 or up to the last 2 weeks of life1) and continued Mrs A.Z. is a 60-year-old woman with breast cancer until the patient’s death. Palliative sedation should be a and known metastases to bone and brain. She received last resort for patients who have intolerable, refractory whole-brain radiation therapy 2 months ago. Mrs A.Z. symptoms.3 The term refractory describes a symptom has a do-not-resuscitate order and an advanced direc- that “cannot be adequately controlled despite aggressive tive with her husband, who is identifed as the substitute efforts to identify a tolerable therapy that does not com- decision maker (SDM). She is admitted to hospital with promise consciousness.”4 a 1-week history of headache and agitated confusion. Health care providers, including family physicians, She is started on haloperidol around the clock (ATC) might be uncomfortable with CPST owing to unfamiliar- and every hour as needed. At home, she was taking ity, differing terminology (eg, previous use of the term morphine ATC and as needed for pain (averaging 1 to terminal sedation5), ethical and legal challenges,6 and mis- 2 breakthrough episodes per day) and low-dose dexa- conceptions about it being a form of euthanasia or phy- methasone for her brain metastases. Although she has sician-assisted suicide.2,5,7,8 Consultation with a physician no signs or symptoms of opioid-induced neurotoxic- who has knowledge of and expertise in both symptom ity, in case her current opioid might be contributing management and CPST is strongly advised when con- to her confusion, it is rotated to hydromorphone. She sidering CPST.1,6 Interprofessional team members, where appears to be well hydrated and is not hypoxic. There available, can provide valuable input and important assis- are no obvious sources of infection, such as pneumonia, tance with decision making regarding CPST.3 urinary tract infection, or skin infections. Her medica- Two of the most common indications for CPST, non- tion list is reviewed for drug interactions; none is found. reversible refractory agitated delirium and refractory Bloodwork results, including complete blood count, and intolerable dyspnea,2,3 are the focus of this article. blood glucose levels, liver enzyme levels, creatinine The use of CPST when symptoms are nonphysical (eg, levels, and chemistry results, are within normal limits. existential distress) remains controversial2,9 and is not She does not have hypercalcemia. Her delirium is likely discussed. Similarly, initiation, continuation, or discon- related to her brain metastases. A trial of an increased tinuation of hydration and artifcial feeding should be dose of dexamethasone does not improve her agitation. considered separate issues3 and are also not discussed. Her delirium is ultimately considered nonreversible. Owing to the lack of randomized controlled trials Over the next several days, her agitation increases and the differences in clinical settings and types of such that she is yelling out and repeatedly crawling out of bed. Frequent as-needed doses of haloperidol are not La traduction en français de cet article se trouve à effective in treating her refractory agitated delirium. A www.cfp.ca dans la table des matières du numéro de discussion is held with her husband about the option septembre 2014 à la page e436. of CPST. Because Mrs A.Z. has a nonreversible refractory agitated delirium that is not responding to haloperidol, VOL 60: SEPTEMBER • SEPTEMBRE 2014 | Canadian Family Physician Le Médecin de famille canadien 813 Palliative Care Files methotrimeprazine is tried. Her husband provides Plans to further investigate for possible reversible causes informed consent after discussion of the intent and of his dyspnea and subsequent treatment options are side effects of methotrimeprazine, which is then started discussed with him, including the possibility of CPST ATC and every hour as needed for her agitated delirium. as a last resort for symptom management if all other Details of the discussion with the patient’s husband and options are ineffective. Availability of a CSCI of mid- the health care team are documented in her chart. azolam is explained to him, including its intent and goal Unfortunately, Mrs A.Z. does not respond to increas- for symptom management. Because of his underlying ing doses of methotrimeprazine. Discussions are held disease and secondary intolerable dyspnea, the infu- with her husband about changing the medication for sion would be expected to continue until his death. The sedation to a continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) discussion with input from the team is documented in of midazolam. Dosing and proportionate titration are his chart. discussed with her husband. He is reassured, as before, He is hypoxic according to a pulse oximetry assess- that this will not shorten her life, but rather, Mrs A.Z. ment, and his oxygen is increased to 6 L/min. He is start- will ultimately die of her underlying disease. An infusion ed on oxycodone ATC and every hour as needed for dys- of midazolam is started and the dose is titrated propor- pnea, and a fan is directed toward his face. A chest x-ray tionately to an amount that alleviates her agitation. Mrs scan reveals hilar lymphadenopathy, loss of right lung A.Z.’s personal care, including mouth care and regular volume with no evidence of pneumonia, and a moderate- turning to preserve skin integrity, is maintained. She is sized left pleural effusion. He undergoes a thoracentesis, regularly checked for level of consciousness and side but this fails to alleviate his dyspnea; 3 days after admis- effects of the sedation therapy. Mrs A.Z.’s hydromor- sion, he rates his dyspnea as 9 out of 10. phone is maintained, which is used for ongoing pain He is becoming tachypneic and is unable to recline control (not for sedation). Her husband’s questions are in bed. His dyspnea rating is now 10 out of 10. His ATC addressed, and he continues to receive support from the oxycodone dose is increased, and upon his request, he staff throughout the process. Mrs A.Z. dies 3 days after receives increased doses of oxycodone for breakthrough the CSCI of midazolam is started. episodes. During the next 2 days, his oxygen require- ments increase to 15 L/min. His medication is rotated On palliative care units, 49% of delirium episodes are to hydromorphone without improvement in his dyspnea reversible.10 More than 80% of patients with advanced and he then starts receiving low-dose ATC methotrime- cancer develop delirium or cognitive impairment in the prazine. These measures fail to adequately alleviate last weeks before death.10,11 Thus, consultation with his dyspnea. His tachypnea increases, and he is now a palliative care specialist can assist in screening for tripoding with increased work of breathing and use of potentially reversible causes. It is important to look for accessory muscles. He asks if anything else can be done and consider treatment of reversible factors, such as to make him more comfortable and less short of breath, medication side effects, drug interactions, infections, as he is no longer able to tolerate being so dyspneic. metabolic disturbances (particularly hypercalcemia), and The option of CPST is discussed in detail with him again, hypoxia. Informing the family or the SDM about the including its intent and goal. He requests that a CSCI of completion of the workup for reversible causes helps midazolam be started, and it is titrated to effect to allevi- to emphasize that the delirium is nonreversible. It is ate his dyspnea. His personal care is maintained, and he essential to provide ongoing information and updates dies 1 day after starting the CSCI of midazolam. to the family or SDM about the intent and aim of seda- tion, how it will be administered, how the patient will As in case 1, health care providers should look for be regularly observed, and what can be expected during and treat potentially reversible causes of dyspnea the dying process.3 that the patient agrees to have treated. Some of these might include pleural effusions, pneumonia, pulmonary Case 2: refractory and intolerable dyspnea embolism, or anemia.