|
Sign In to gain access to subscriptions and/or personal tools.
|
High-Dose Propofol Drip for Palliative Sedation: A Case Report
Christopher M. Herndon, PharmD, BCPS*
and
Ethan Zimmerman, MD
Southern Illinois University School of Pharmacy
* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: cherndo{at}siue.edu.
 |
Abstract |
|---|
Oftentimes, patients at the end of life may present with challenging symptoms refractory to conventional therapies. Agitation and terminal restlessness, 2 common symptoms encountered in the hospice population, are frequently managed using benzodiazepines or typical antipsychotics. In clinical scenarios that either preclude their use or in which they prove ineffective, alternative pharmacotherapy must be considered. Propofol, a sedative-hypnotic unrelated to any other class of drug, may provide palliation of agitation and terminal restlessness refractory to benzodiazepines or antipsychotics. Here, the authors present a hospice patient admitted to the general medical floor of a small community hospital for pain and symptom management. A history of polysubstance abuse contributes to rapidly escalating doses of opioids and midazolam. Failure to control her symptoms resulted in the initiation and successful titration of propofol.
First published on June 11, 2008, doi:10.1177/1049909108319268
American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine® 2009;25:492.
A more recent version of this article appeared on January 1, 2009
 CiteULike  Complore  Connotea  Del.icio.us  Digg  Reddit  Technorati  Twitter What's this?
|
|
