Unbearable suffering and requests for euthanasia prospectively studied in end-of-life cancer patients in primary care

Background

An international discussion about whether or not to legally permit euthanasia and (or) physician assisted suicide (EAS) is ongoing. Unbearable suffering in patients may result in a request for EAS. In the Netherlands EAS is legally permitted, and unbearable suffering is one of the central compulsory criteria. The majority of EAS is performed in cancer patients in the primary care practice. In around one in every seven end-of-life cancer patients dying in the primary care setting EAS is performed. The prevalence of unbearable symptoms and overall unbearable suffering in relationship to explicit requests for EAS was studied in a cohort of end-of-life cancer patients in primary care.

Methods

A prospective study in primary care cancer patients estimated to die within six months was performed. Every two months suffering was assessed with the State-of-Suffering V (SOS-V). The SOS-V is a comprehensive instrument for quantitative and qualitative assessment of unbearable suffering related to 69 physical, psychological and social symptoms in five domains.

Results

Out of 148 patients who were asked to participate 76 (51%) entered the study. The studied population were 64 patients who were followed up until death; 27% explicitly requested EAS, which was performed in 8% of the patients. The final interview per patient was analyzed; in four patients the SOS-V was missing. Unbearable symptoms were present in 94% of patients with an explicit request for EAS and in 87% of patients without an explicit request. No differences were found in the prevalence of unbearable suffering for physical, psychological, social and existential symptoms, nor for overall unbearable suffering, between patients who did or who did not explicitly request EAS.

Conclusions

In a population of end-of-life cancer patients cared for in primary care no differences in unbearable suffering were found between patients with and without explicit requests for EAS. The study raises the question whether unbearable suffering is the dominant motive to request for EAS. Most patients suffered from unbearable symptoms, indicating that the compulsory criterion of unbearable suffering may be met a priori in most end-of-life cancer patients dying at home, whether they request EAS or not.

     

Open reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip: failures of screening or failures of treatment?

Introduction

The aim of this study was to define the clinical indications and demographic characteristics of patients undergoing open reduction for developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), and determine the proportion due to preventable failures of contemporary clinical screening and early management.

Methods

Case notes were reviewed of consecutive primary open reductions performed for non-teratologic hip dislocation at the Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children over a five-year period. Forty-eight patients (64 hips) were suitable for inclusion. A telephone survey confirmed selective hip ultrasonography screening protocols were employed in all maternity hospitals in our referral base.

Results

There were no cases of open reduction for unilateral DDH following Pavlik treatment commenced by six weeks of age, highlighting the importance of early detection and treatment. Eleven cases (23%) may have been avoided by appropriate implementation of existing selective ultrasonography screening protocols. Thirty-four cases (71%) presented after four months of age, suggesting open reduction is associated with late diagnosis rather than failure of primary management. None of these patients had neonatal hip ultrasonography and only 12% (4 patients) had a risk factor that should have triggered a scan.

Conclusions

Compared with published results, the contemporary screening practices in our referral base are failing to eliminate late presenting DDH and the need for open surgical reduction. Changes in strategy and implementation are required to significantly improve screening efficacy.     

Rescue of migrated Woven Endobridge devices using a stent-retriever-technique in a porcine model

PurposeThe Woven Endobridge device (WEB) has become widely applied for the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Complications are rare, however, especially dislocations and migrations can potentially increase poor clinical outcome. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of rescuing migrated Woven Endobridges using different stent retrievers.MethodsIn a porcine model, Woven Endobridges of different sizes (SLS 4, SLS 7, SL 5 × 3, SL 4 × 3) were placed into the axillary arteries. By means of two different stent retrievers (Solitaire Platinum and 3D Revascularization Device), a total of 20 rescue maneuvers were performed. For this purpose, the retrievers were deployed distally of the migrated Woven Endobridges. After retracting the stent retrievers partially, the Woven Endobridges were trapped within the microcatheter. Rescue rates, time, attempts and complications were assessed.ResultsSuccessful rescue of the migrated Woven Endobridges was observed in all cases (100%). Rescue was slightly faster (177.8 ± 72.8 s vs. 223.4 ± 104.1 s) with fewer attempts (1.5 ± 0.8 vs. 1.8 ± 0.9) when using the 3D Revascularization Device compared to the Solitaire Platinum. However, there were no significant differences (p = 0.327; p = 0.554). Migration of the Woven Endobridges during rescue was seen with both stent retrievers in a comparable frequency (p = 0.642). Further complications, such as entrapment of the stent-retriever–WovenEndobridge-complex at the intermediate catheter, vasospasm, perforation or dissection, were not observed.ConclusionsRescue of migrated Woven Endobridges using stent retrievers is a feasible and effective method. Rescue rates, times and attempts with the Solitaire Platinum and 3D Revascularization Device are comparable with each other.     

Klinische Ernährung in der Chirurgie

Background

While enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) programs are the standard for perioperative management, special nutritional care has to be administered to malnourished patients and those at metabolic risk with special regard to patients with postoperative complications.

Methods

Existing guidelines of the German and European societies of nutritional medicine (DGEM and ESPEN) on enteral and parenteral nutrition in surgery were merged and in accordance with the principles of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF, German Association of the Scientific Medical Societies) and Ärztliches Zentrum für Qualität in der Medizin (AeZQ, German Agency for Quality in Medicine) revised and extended.

Results and discussion

The working group developed 41 consensus-based recommendations for perioperative nutrition. The recommendation strength is: 9x A (recommendation based on significant good quality literature containing at least one randomized controlled trial), 12x B (recommendation based on well-designed trial without randomization), 13x C (recommendation based on expert opinions and/or clinical experience of respected authorities) and 7x CCP (clinical consensus point).

Conclusion

Even in patients without obvious malnutrition perioperative nutritional support is indicated when oral food intake is not feasible or inadequate for a longer period of time.     

Clinical worsening due to inappropriate automatic mode switch during biventricular pacing: What is the mechanism?

We describe a case of a 65-year-old gentleman with nonischemic cardiomyopathy and left bundle branch block who underwent cardiac resynchronization therapy device. After becoming a responder initially, he experienced significant clinical worsening on follow-up. Device interrogation revealed several long episodes of inappropriate automatic mode switch (AMS) entry due to far-field R wave oversensing resulting in loss of atrioventricular synchrony. Moreover, pacing in VVI mode with consistent VA conduction taking place during the AMS episodes was also found to be detrimental, which helped in sustaining the episodes and produced pacemaker syndrome like phenomenon. Attempts made to resolve the issue by prolonging the post-ventricular atrial blanking period was unsuccessful, hence we adjusted the atrial channel sensitivity to troubleshoot the problem.