Management of pain in the terminally ill

Publication date: Available online 23 September 2016 Source:Anaesthesia & Intensive Care Medicine Author(s): Siobhan E. King, Joseph Paul Hawkins, Jonathan MJ. Valentine Pain management in the terminally ill can be complex and challenging necessitating a holistic approach. Multimodal analgesic strategies are usually employed to successfully manage pain and other symptoms. There are now a variety of opioid formulations available to treat moderate to severe pain. Neuropathic and cancer-induced bone pain can be difficult to treat, but newer drugs are available in addition to a number of established interventional procedures. The psychosocial aspects associated with terminal illness must be considered and managed with the involvement of a multidisciplinary palliative care team.
Source: Anaesthesia and intensive care medicine - Category: Anesthesiology Source Type: research