[The palliative care in geriatrics: a retrospective study of 40 cases]

Owing to the very great age and the polypathology of the patients in geriatrics, we are often confronted to the palliative care decision.

The purposes of this retrospective study were both to define the criteria leading to palliative care and to analyse the evolution of patients.

We analysed 40 files of patients hospitalised in Geriatric internal medicine or Geriatric rehabilitation departments over 11 months.

Mean age was 85.4 years and 62.5% of patients were females. Infections, heart failure, general weakness, orthopaedic affections, strokes and cancers were the main causes of hospitalisation. Patients had 3 medical or surgical histories of chronic or cured serious diseases and a MMSE average value of 17.7. The rate of malnutrition was 92% and 90% of patients were very dependent. Severe infections, cancers, heart failure and severe pressure ulcers were the main affections for decision of palliative care. The latter was always decided by the staff with patients or families taking part in 8 cases and being informed in other cases. The palliative care lasted 7 days on average. Morphine was used in 31 cases. No artificial nutrition was introduced.

The decision of palliative care is very complex since great age, polypathology, great dependence and high prevalence of cognitive disorders are frequent in this population.