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Pain control in palliative care settings

RENATA DOBRILA-DINTINJANA ; Gastroenterology oncology department, Internal Clinic, Clinical Hospital Centre, T. Strižića 3, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
JELENA LUZER ; General practice, Community Health Centre of Primorsko goranska county, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
MARIJAN DINTINJANA ; Private general practice, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia

Abstract

Background and Purpose: The goal of palliative care is symptom control in patients with advanced disease and improvement of their quality of life.

Materials and Methods: Pain assessment can be done through numerous rating scales. It is important to quantify pain so that health care providers can provide the most sufficient pain therapy and determine the effectiveness of it.

Results: Morphine is the »gold standard« as pain medication in palliative care. Patients receiving palliative care often require frequent escalations in opioid dosage to attain good pain control. If the patient’s pain cannot be controlled by using opioids co-adjuvant analgesics should be added.

Conclusions: In pain control therapy we should apply the cancer pain algorithm named »analgesic elevator« which is suggested by IASP.

Keywords

Hrčak ID:

38231

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/38231

Publication date:

15.6.2009.

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