“I Am Barely Breathing”: Experiences and Outcomes of an Integrated Palliative Care-Pulmonary Clinic Utilizing an Opioid and Benzodiazepine Review Board for Safety (TH363)

Patients with advanced pulmonary disease including COPD report a poor quality of life. These patients also live with a great amount of prognostic uncertainty. Symptoms include dyspnea, pain, fatigue, and mood changes. Patients note changing and diminishing functional status and quality of life. Often, conversations about goals of care are not pursued early. Literature exists to support the treatment of subjective dyspnea in advanced COPD with opioids, however, studies are small and limited.

Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - January 23, 2019 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Lara Skarf, Sohera Syeda, Zachary Sager, Elizabeth Bowers, Marilyn Moy, Tekikil Mekuria, Barbara Hayes, Marina Khait Source Type: research