Related Experiment Videos
Who receives home-based perinatal palliative care: experience from Poland
Aleksandra Korzeniewska-Eksterowicz1, Łukasz Przysło, Bogna Kędzierska
1Pediatric Palliative Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Oncology, Hematology and Diabetology, Medical University of Lodz, 36/50 Sporna Street, 91-738 Lodz, Poland ; Gajusz Foundation, Pediatric Palliative Care Center, Home Hospice for Children of Lodz Region, 87 Dąbrowskiego Street, 93-271 Lodz, Poland.
Insights
Home-based palliative care (PPC) for neonates and infants is a growing need. This care improves quality of life for terminally ill newborns and supports families during difficult times.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Palliative care
- Pediatric hospice
Background:
- Literature emphasizes comprehensive, early, and integrated perinatal palliative care (PPC).
- Limited research exists on home-based PPC for newborns and neonates.
- Most studies focus on hospital-based neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe neonates and infants receiving home-based palliative care in the Lodz Region from 2005 to 2011.
- To analyze patient demographics, diagnoses, and care outcomes.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records.
- Analysis of patient data admitted to a home hospice.
Main Results:
- 53 neonates and infants received home hospice care between 2005 and 2011.
- Congenital diseases were the primary diagnoses (41%).
- Common issues included neurological symptoms (72%) and dysphagia (58%); 45% required feeding tubes and oxygen. Cardiac insufficiency was the leading cause of death (56%).
Conclusions:
- Home-based palliative care is a viable option for terminally ill neonates and infants.
- PPC enhances the quality of life for these young patients.
- It offers families a crucial opportunity for saying goodbye.
Context:
The current literature suggests that perinatal palliative care (PPC) programs should be comprehensive, initiated early, and integrative. So far there have been very few publications on the subject of home-based PC of newborns and neonates. Most publications focus on hospital-based care, mainly in the neonatal intensive care units.
Objective:
To describe the neonates and infants who received home-based palliative care in Lodz Region between 2005 and 2011.
Methods:
A retrospective review of medical records.
Results:
53 neonates and infants were admitted to a home hospice in Lodz Region between 2005 and 2011. In general, they are a growing group of patients referred to palliative care. Congenital diseases (41%) were the primary diagnoses; out of 53 patients 16 died, 20 were discharged home, and 17 stayed under hospice care until 2011. The most common cause of death (56%) was cardiac insufficiency. Neurological symptoms (72%) and dysphagia (58%) were the most common clinical problems. The majority of children (45%) had a feeding tube inserted and were oxygen dependent (45%); 39 families received psychological care and 31 social supports.
Conclusions:
For terminally ill neonates and infants, perinatal palliative care is an option which improves the quality of their lives and provides the family with an opportunity to say goodbye.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Continuing Care
01:29Documentation in Long-Term and Home Healthcare Setting
Long-Term Care Facilities
01:13Patient-centered Care
01:30Specialized Care Centers and Settings-II
Rural health centers are specialized care facilities in remote locations with very few medical personnel. The primary care providers who run the centers are mostly Registered Nurse Practitioners. Here, emergency treatment is provided to critically ill or injured patients before they are transferred to the closest hospital. Fortunately, due to advancement in technology, many rural healthcare facilities and professionals have easy access to diagnostic and treatment...
00:55Parental Care
01:19Restorative Care