[Trial of home infusion therapy for near-terminal stage patients with lung cancer]

To improve the quality of life in patients with malignant diseases at the near-terminal stage, we established a system for home infusion therapy (HIT) in Osaka Prefectural Habikino Hospital in 1994. Thirty-three patients were taken care of at home using the HIT system from January, 1995 to May, 1996. Their average age was 70 years old. The duration of HIT varied from 1 to 105 days (mean:25.5 days). Twenty-four cases received parenteral nutrition. The others received agents for brain edema (4 cases), morphine hydrochloride (2 cases), and anti-fungal agents (3 case). Additionally, 63% of these patients required home oxygen therapy (HOT) with HIT. Questionnaires to their families revealed that they were afraid of the progress of the disease in patients and their physical burden became heavier after the start of HIT. However, they were quite satisfied with the results of HIT.