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Keiko Tanaka



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    ES 06 - Communication Skills in the End of Life/ Symptom Management in Lung Cancer (ID 515)

    • Event: WCLC 2017
    • Type: Educational Session
    • Track: Nursing/Palliative Care/Ethics
    • Presentations: 1
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      ES 06.03 - Palliative Management of Dyspnea (ID 7607)

      16:15 - 16:30  |  Presenting Author(s): Keiko Tanaka

      • Abstract
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      Abstract:
      [Introduction] Dyspnea is one of the most frequent, refractory and distressing symptoms in lung cancer patients. It is reported that dyspnea interferes will to live in terminally ill cancer patients. Palliation of respiratory symptoms is important to improve quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients and their families. [Definition of dyspnea] 'Dyspnea' is defined as 'a subjective experience of breathing discomfort', while 'respiratory failure' is defined objectively as 'pulmonary dysfunction with hypoxia and/or hypercapnia'. Dyspnea and respiratory failure are different entities, and it is shown that the severity of those do not always correlate with each other. [Impact of dyspnea] Dyspnea experience is derived from interactions among physiological, psychological, social, and environmental factors, and may include secondary physiological and behavioral responses. Dyspnea often triggers panic, fear, anxiety, depression, hopelessness, sense of loss of control to patients. Dyspnea is closely associated with fatigue, pain, and depression, and interfering with general activities, mood and enjoyment of life. Dyspnea at rest is also known to correlate with survival, identified as a predictor of poor prognosis in cancer patients. [Clinical Assessment of Dyspnea] As for the assessment of dyspnea, multi-disciplinary team approach and paying attention to patients' own words are important. The assessment should focused on the following three dimensions; 1) quantities (intensity), 2) qualities, 3) symptom impact or burden. Several appropriate scales in each dimensions will be shown in this session. [Management of Dyspnea] Objectives of dyspnea management are to reduce its frequency and severity, minimize its physical, psychological and spiritual distress, and maximize patients' function and QOL. To achieve these goals, the first step is to identify all the underlying causes, and when they are reversible and modifiable, to treat them with specific modalities accordingly. It is, therefore, important for oncologists to judge treatability, including adverse effects, and to estimate patients' prognosis accurately. This session will provide the outline of palliative management of dyspnea with focus on pharmacological and non-pharmacological means. [Pharmacological interventions] The Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine (JSPM) published 'Clinical guidelines for respiratory symptoms in cancer patients' in 2016. These guidelines are unique because they are more directly focused on 'dyspnea' management specifically, based on the formal development process for clinical guidelines. Some of the important recommendations will be introduced in this session. *Note: Strength of recommendation: 1 (strong) = recommended, 2 (weak) = suggested. Level of evidence: A (High), B (Moderate), C (Low), D (Very low) 1) Opioids Systemic morphine is recommended to be used (1B). Systemic oxycodone is suggested to be used, as alternative to morphine (2C), while systemic fentanyl is suggested not to be used (2C). Systemic codeine/dihydrocodeine is suggested to be used (2C). 2) Benzodiazepine anti-anxiety Benzodiazepine is suggested to be used in combination with opioid (2C), while it is suggested not to be used alone (2C). 3) Corticosteroid Systemic corticosteroid is suggested to be used in patients with lymphangitis carcinomatosa, superior vena cava syndrome and major airway obstruction (2D). It is, however, suggested not to be used routinely without consideration of dyspnea etiology (2D). [Non-Pharmacological interventions] The effectiveness of non-pharmacological interventions for dyspnea in advanced cancer and non-cancer (mostly chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) has been reported in Cochrane reviews. Interventions supported by good evidence include breathing training, walking aids, and exercise. Those with some evidence include handheld fan, follow-up programs by nurses and acupuncture/ acupressure. [Conclusion] It is difficult to conduct high-quality clinical research on symptom control in advanced cancer patients because of patients' vulnerability as well as the ethical conflict. More clinical researches of good designs need to be conducted in this field, so that standard palliative care may be delivered to all the cancer patients anytime and anywhere, helping them live their own lives with dignity. [References] 1) Chan K, Tse DMW and Sham MMK. Dyspnoea and other respiratory symptoms in palliative care. In: Cherny NI, Fallon MT, Kaasa S, Portenoy RK, Currow DC. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine (5[th] ed). Oxford University Press, 421-434, 2015 2) Yamaguchi T, Goya S, Kohara H. et al. Treatment Recommendations for Respiratory Symptoms in Cancer Patients; Clinical Guideline from the Japanese Society for Palliative Medicine. J Palliat Medicine. 2016, 19(9): 925-935 3) Bausewein C, Booth S, Gysels M, and Higginson I. Non-pharmacological interventions for breathlessness in advanced stages of malignant and non-malignant diseases. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev. CD005623, 2008 4) Non-invasive interventions for improving well-being and quality of life in patients with lung cancer. Cochrane Database of Syst Rev. CD004282, 2011

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