[The role of anesthesiologist in the palliative care team in a public hospital].

BACKGROUND

The Japanese government promotes palliative care and our hospital has the palliative care team including an anesthesiologist for better end of lives of cancer patients.

METHODS

From the new point of an anesthesiologist, the outcome and characteristics of patients receiving palliative care in our hospital were examined.

RESULTS

From August 2010 to March 2012, 93 patients were treated by the team. They were terminal patients whose remaining days were expected to be several months. The most common problem among them was severe pain amenable to opioid administration.

CONCLUSIONS

Anesthesiologists familiar with pain, sedation and nausea control are important specialists in the palliative care team.