Anesthesia Involvement in Palliative Care

Palliative care teams require multidisciplinary support. While this is an emerging area in anesthesia practice, there are many avenues for certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) to share their unrivaled clinical knowledge. CRNAs may become involved with or consult on palliative sedation, medical management, interventional pain management, terminal wean/extubation, and organ donation. Additionally, CRNAs need to understand the unique needs of this patient population so that they can appropriately care for palliative care patients presenting to the operating room for palliative surgery. More research is needed to further explore CRNA involvement in palliative care. However, CRNAs have a specialized knowledge of pharmacology and physiology that perfectly complements the multidisciplinary palliative care team. Death is the wish of some, the relief of many, and the end of all. Lucius Annaeus Seneca (4 BCE65).