Palliative sedation in patients with advanced cancer followed at home: a prospective study.

CONTEXT

Home care programs in Italy.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess a protocol for palliative sedation (PS) performed at home.

METHODS

A total of 219 patients were prospectively assessed to evaluate a PS protocol in patients with advanced cancer followed at home by two home care programs with different territorial facilities. The protocol was based on stepwise administration of midazolam.

RESULTS

A total of 176 of the patients died at home, and PS was performed in 24 of these patients (13.6%). Younger patients received the procedure more frequently than older patients (P=0.012). The principal reasons to start PS were agitated delirium (n=20) and dyspnea (n=4). Mean duration of PS was 42.2±30.4 hours, and the mean doses of midazolam were 23-58 mg/day. Both the home care team and the patients' relatives expressed optimal or good levels of satisfaction with the procedure in all but one case, respectively.

CONCLUSION

This protocol for PS was feasible and effective in minimizing distress for a subgroup of patients who died at home. The characteristics of patients who may be effectively sedated at home should be better explored in future studies.