The Current Practice of Oxygen Therapy for Dyspnea in Terminally Ill Cancer Patients: A Nationwide Survey of Japanese Palliative Care Physicians

Dyspnea is a frequent and distressing symptom among terminal cancer patients.1,2 Oxygen therapy is often used to alleviate dyspnea in this population. However, the efficacy of oxygen therapy for dyspnea in patients without hypoxemia has not been proven,3,4 and several guidelines are against its use in such patients.5,6 In addition, oxygen therapy may worsen the quality of life because of adverse events such as oral dryness and feeling of restriction.7 It is, therefore, important to explore the daily provision of oxygen therapy for cancer dyspnea by palliative care physicians and to determine the criteria for oxygen therapy for cancer dyspnea in patients without hypoxemia.
Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - Category: Palliative Care Authors: Tags: Letter Source Type: research