Palliative care in pediatric hematological oncology patients: experience of a tertiary hospital

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 20, 2026

Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies
08:34

Proton Therapy Delivery and Its Clinical Application in Select Solid Tumor Malignancies

Published on: February 6, 2019

21.3K

Maria Thereza Macedo Valadares1, Joaquim Antônio César Mota1, Benigna Maria de Oliveira1

  • 1Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.

Revista Brasileira De Hematologia E Hemoterapia
|December 3, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Palliative care for pediatric hematological oncology patients effectively managed pain and symptoms with multidisciplinary teams. However, a formalized palliative care plan was lacking, despite discussions on limiting invasive therapies.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Palliative Care
  • Hematological Malignancies

Background:

  • Palliative care is crucial for children with hematological cancers facing disease progression.
  • Tertiary hospitals require structured approaches to pediatric palliative care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the existing palliative care practices for pediatric hematological oncology patients.
  • To identify areas for improvement in symptom management and multidisciplinary team involvement.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective descriptive study of 29 deceased pediatric hematological oncology patients (2009-2011).
  • Data collection included pain and symptom prevalence, multidisciplinary team participation, communication, and limited invasive therapy.

Main Results:

  • 93.1% of patients had disease progression unresponsive to curative treatment.
  • Pain was prevalent, with all patients receiving analgesics, including opioids.
  • Multidisciplinary involvement was high (social services 86.2%, psychology 69%), and invasive therapy limitations were discussed with families (96.3%).

Conclusions:

  • The hospital demonstrates potential for a specialized pediatric palliative care program.
  • Effective management of pain and symptoms requires a comprehensive multidisciplinary team approach.
  • A well-defined, coordinated palliative care treatment plan was not documented.
Abstract

Keywords:
DeathNeoplasmsPalliative care

More Related Videos

Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion PHP with Melphalan as a Treatment for Unresectable Metastases Confined to the Liver09:02

Percutaneous Hepatic Perfusion PHP with Melphalan as a Treatment for Unresectable Metastases Confined to the Liver

Published on: July 31, 2016

12.5K
Establishment of Cancer Stem Cell Cultures from Human Conventional Osteosarcoma09:25

Establishment of Cancer Stem Cell Cultures from Human Conventional Osteosarcoma

Published on: October 14, 2016

19.8K

Related Concept Videos

Continuing Care01:25

Continuing Care

Continuing care describes the variety of health, personal, and social services provided over a prolonged period. The need for continuing care is increasing because people are living longer. Many people do not have families or others to care for them. Continuing care is mainly for patients who are disabled, functionally dependent, or suffering from a terminal disease. It is available within institutional settings or in homes. Examples include nursing centers or facilities, assisted living,...
2.1K
Treatment Resistant Cancers02:56

Treatment Resistant Cancers

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States. A cancer cell is genetically unstable and hence can mutate faster. They can also modify their microenvironment and escape immune surveillance. The difficulties in treating cancer are further compounded by the emergence of rapid resistance to anticancer drugs. The most common ways to attain resistance in cancer cells include alteration in drug transport and metabolism, modification of drug target, elevated DNA damage response, or...
3.9K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight,...
513
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism01:24

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Metabolism

In pediatric care, understanding the nuances of hepatic drug metabolism is crucial, as it significantly differs from that of adults. This divergence is primarily due to the developmental stage of drug-metabolizing enzymes, which affects how medications are processed in the body. In neonates, for instance, the activity of Phase I enzymes—critical for the initial breakdown of drugs—is markedly reduced, functioning at just 20–40% of the levels seen in adults. This reduction poses...
373
Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants01:22

Bone Marrow Sampling and Transplants

Bone marrow transplant is a potential cure for several diseases, including cancer and specific genetic disorders. Notably, this procedure is applicable for patients suffering from aplastic anemia, certain types of leukemia, severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID), Hodgkin's disease, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, multiple myeloma, thalassemia, sickle-cell disease, and certain cancers.
The transplant begins with high doses of chemotherapy and radiation treatment, which aim to destroy...
2.8K
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
392