Open AccessPalliative care for pediatric neurology
Author(s) -
Eli Bacheladenski,
André Carmo
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
residência pediátrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2236-6814
DOI - 10.25060/residpediatr-2021.v11n2-152
Subject(s) - medicine , malnutrition , palliative care , neurology , intensive care medicine , quality of life (healthcare) , dysphagia , medline , pediatrics , nursing , psychiatry , surgery , pathology , political science , law
OBJECTIVES: More than a third of children and adolescents who are followed by a palliative care unit (PCU) have a severe neurologic condition. The aim of this study is to review the indication of palliative care for patients with chronic debilitating neurologic conditions. METHODS: Databases literature review: PubMed, SciELO and LILACS, using the keywords combination for basic and advanced research. The following filters were applied: human beings, ages 0 through 18 years old, publication dated from the last 10 years, Portuguese, English or Spanish languages. RESULTS: After exclusion of papers that did not meet the study criteria, 24 articles were obtained on the matter. malnutrition is a major issue among patients with neurologic conditions, especially as a result of dysphagia. The use of enteral nutrition through feeding tubes is a valuable and underused measure to improve nutritional status. Excess orothraqueal secretions and dysphagia pose great risks to these patients, thus, procedures such as the laryngo-thraqueal separation can minimize those risks. Humor disorders must also be duly diagnosed and treated, as well as there should be a prompt discussion with caregivers about end of life care and grief. CONCLUSION: Palliative care indication should be encouraged more and more in pediatric neurology practice, as recommended, when faced upon the diagnosis of a potentially fatal condition or one that poses severe development impairment, aiming health quality improvements.