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Published on: July 26, 2024

Subcutaneous Drug Administration in Pediatric Palliative Home Care: A Multicenter Prospective Study

Belén Riva de la Hoz1, Marta Echávarri de Miguel1, Cristina Latre Gorbe2

  • 1Pharmacy Department (B.R.H., M.E.M., I.G.L.), Hospital Infantil Universitario Niño Jesús, Madrid, Spain.

Journal of Pain and Symptom Management
|July 24, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Subcutaneous drug administration is a safe and feasible option for symptom management in pediatric palliative home care. This study highlights its effectiveness and supports further research for standardized pediatric subcutaneous therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Palliative Care
  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Pediatric palliative care often involves complex conditions and significant symptom burden.
  • Subcutaneous drug administration offers an alternative route when other methods are not feasible.
  • Evidence for its use in children is currently limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the real-world use, safety, and administration of subcutaneous drugs for symptom control in pediatric palliative home care.
  • To identify factors associated with catheter-related complications.

Main Methods:

  • A multicenter, prospective observational study involving nine Spanish hospitals.
  • Inclusion of pediatric patients receiving home-based palliative care requiring subcutaneous drug administration.
  • Data collection at patient, catheter, and treatment levels; statistical analysis using descriptive statistics and mixed-effects logistic regression.

Main Results:

  • Analysis of 40 patients, 140 catheters, and 214 treatment episodes.
  • Primary indication: inadequate symptom control via other routes (75%).
  • Catheter-related complications occurred in 40%, mainly mild local reactions; scopolamine use was linked to increased risk (OR, 6.94).

Conclusions:

  • Subcutaneous drug administration is a viable and generally safe strategy for symptom control in pediatric palliative home care.
  • Findings advocate for collaborative research to standardize pediatric subcutaneous therapy.
Abstract

Keywords:
Pediatricsdrug administrationhome care servicespalliative caresubcutaneous infusionssymptom management

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