The clinical vignette presented here provides an opportunity to explore why. The decision to allow palliative sedation is never easy, even when, as Dahl says, "the alternative is unacceptable suffering." Palliative sedation in perspective The patient (if able to make his wishes known) and the physician may reach the conclusion that continuous sedation is the only way of alleviating suffering, if life expectancy is less than one to two weeks. All nutrients and fluids are stopped, and the person usually dies within a few days. Palliative sedation is used in exceptional cases if the treatments that are normally recommended fail to provide adequate relief. It is a propitious time for the publication of Dr. Wein’s thoughtful paper on sedation in the imminently dying. The term "terminal sedation" lacks precision [1]. for considering palliative sedation. Patients using palliative sedation should be monitored around the clock to be sure the sedation is adequate. Palliative sedation provides enough medication to keep the person unconscious and continuously pain and symptom-free. Palliative sedation may be temporary. Continuous sedation is always administered in the final stages of life. of palliative sedation, while others limit it to continuous sedation, which he said might explain some of the variance in estimates of how often it occurs. And he proposed more systematic research into the types of medications used, how long it takes for patients … Palliative sedation uses special drugs called sedatives to relieve extreme suffering by making a patient calm and unaware. Sedation may be considered for a patient's comfort or for a physical condition such as uncontrolled pain. Developed by the Division of Palliative Care, Dept. The trajectory leading up to continuous palliative sedation in NH residents with dementia and extreme refractory neuropsychiatric symptoms was complex and burdensome, but the initiation led to relief and contentment for all those involved. Palliative care can be helpful at any stage of illness and is best provided from the point of diagnosis. Symptoms then cause intolerable suffering, which may be physical, psychological, existential or spiritual. The decision whether to sedate a patient at the end of life is a hard one. It is designed to make the patient unaware and unconscious as the disease follows its natural progression to death. This area is known as Palliative or Terminal or Controlled Sedation. 31March 2020 Defining Continuous Palliative Sedation Therapy Continuous Palliative Sedation Therapy (CPST) is a specialized medical intervention leading to the intentional induction and continuous maintenance of a reduced level of consciousness to Palliative sedation is the use of medication to reduce the severe suffering of the patient by administering sedative drugs thereby reducing consciousness. Palliative care is a resource for anyone living with a serious illness, such as heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cancer, dementia, Parkinson's disease, and many others. Indeed, some studies have shown that patients receiving higher doses may actually have longer survival, with the theory being that relieving dyspnea and anxiety may decrease oxygen demand. Some patients decide that they'd rather stay alert as long as possible, pain and all. of Family Medicine, McMaster University. 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