JOURNAL HOME CME HOME THIS MONTH PAST ISSUES ETOC COLLECTIONS AUTHORS REVIEWERS EDITORIAL BOARD FEEDBACK RSS HELP
		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a colleague Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (5) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Fine, P. G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Fine, P. G. Related Collections Pain

---

SPECIAL ARTICLE

The Evolving and Important Role of Anesthesiology in Palliative Care

Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

Address correspondence and reprint requests to Perry G. Fine, MD, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Management Center, Ste. 200, 615 Arapeen Dr., University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84109. Address e-mail to fine{at}aros.net

A small but clinically significant proportion of dying patients experience severe physically or psychologically distressing symptoms that are refractory to the usual first-line therapies. Anesthesiologists, currently poorly represented in the rapidly evolving specialties of hospice and palliative medicine, are uniquely qualified to contribute to the comprehensive care of patients who are in this category. Anesthesiologists’ interpersonal capabilities in the management of patients and families under duress, their knowledge and comfort level with the application of potent analgesic and consciousness-altering pharmacology, and their titrating and monitoring skills would add a valuable dimension to palliative care teams. This article summarizes the state of the art and means by which anesthesiologists might contribute to improvements in the important end-of-life outcome of safe and comfortable dying.

IMPLICATIONS: Safe and comfortable dying at the end of a progressive, life-limiting illness are key outcome measures in end-of-life care and are high priorities voiced by patients and their families. Anesthesiologists have unique skills that could greatly improve these critically important outcomes.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				V Cellarius Terminal sedation and the "imminence condition" J. Med. Ethics, February 1, 2008; 34(2): 69 - 72. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. H. Pharo Optimizing Living With Cancer Pain J Am Osteopath Assoc, December 1, 2007; 107(suppl_7): ES1 - ES2. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. H. Pharo and L. Zhou Controlling Cancer Pain With Pharmacotherapy J Am Osteopath Assoc, December 1, 2007; 107(suppl_7): ES22 - ES32. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. H. Pharo Reducing Suffering, Optimizing Living With Cancer Pain J Am Osteopath Assoc, November 1, 2005; 105(suppl_5): ii - ii. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. H. Pharo and L. Zhou Pharmacologic Management of Cancer Pain J Am Osteopath Assoc, November 1, 2005; 105(suppl_5): S21 - S28. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Rousseau Existential Distress and Palliative Sedation Anesth. Analg., August 1, 2005; 101(2): 611 - 612. [Full Text] [PDF]

Anesthesia & Analgesia® is published for the International Anesthesia Research Society® by Lippincott Williams & Wilkins with the assistance of Stanford University Libraries' HighWire Press®. Copyright 2006 by the International Anesthesia Research Society. Online ISSN: 1526-7598   Print ISSN: 0003-2999