Palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany
Abstract Background Palliative sedation has become widely accepted as a method to alleviate refractory symptoms in terminally ill patients. Controversies regarding this topic especially concern the use of palliative sedation for psychological symptoms, the use in patients who are not imminently dyin...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Neurology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02681-7 |
| _version_ | 1818263924897742848 |
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| author | Laura Salzmann Bernd Alt-Epping Alfred Simon |
| author_facet | Laura Salzmann Bernd Alt-Epping Alfred Simon |
| author_sort | Laura Salzmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Palliative sedation has become widely accepted as a method to alleviate refractory symptoms in terminally ill patients. Controversies regarding this topic especially concern the use of palliative sedation for psychological symptoms, the use in patients who are not imminently dying and the simultaneous withdrawal of life-sustaining measures. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by symptoms including muscle weakness, dysphagia, dysarthria, muscle spasms and progressive respiratory insufficiency. Due to these characteristic symptoms, palliative sedation might be considered to be necessary to alleviate refractory suffering in ALS patients. However, palliative sedation in ALS is only rarely discussed in current medical literature and guidelines. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany. The participants were asked to evaluate the use of palliative sedation in different situations. Results Two hundred and ninety-six completed questionnaires were analyzed. The results suggest high levels of support for the use of palliative sedation in ALS patients. 42% of the participants stated that they had already used palliative sedation in the treatment of ALS patients. Acceptance of palliative sedation was higher in case of physical symptoms than in case of psychological symptoms. Refusal of artificial nutrition did not lead to a lower acceptance of palliative sedation. Doctors with specialist training in palliative care had already used palliative sedation in ALS patients more often and they were more likely to accept palliative sedation in different situations than the participants without a background in palliative care. Conclusion Our survey showed that palliative sedation in ALS is widely accepted by the attending doctors. In case of psychological symptoms, palliative sedation is looked at with more concern than in case of physical symptoms. The refusal of artificial nutrition does not result in a decreased acceptance of palliative sedation. Doctors with specialist training in palliative care are more likely to approve of palliative sedation in ALS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:26:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cb2695fa40e44970af87b359baf34d04 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2377 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T19:26:45Z |
| publishDate | 2022-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Neurology |
| spelling | doaj.art-cb2695fa40e44970af87b359baf34d042022-12-22T00:14:30ZengBMCBMC Neurology1471-23772022-04-0122111010.1186/s12883-022-02681-7Palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in GermanyLaura Salzmann0Bernd Alt-Epping1Alfred Simon2Department of Hematology, Oncology and Palliative MedicineDepartment of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital HeidelbergAcademy of Ethics in Medicine, University Medical Center GoettingenAbstract Background Palliative sedation has become widely accepted as a method to alleviate refractory symptoms in terminally ill patients. Controversies regarding this topic especially concern the use of palliative sedation for psychological symptoms, the use in patients who are not imminently dying and the simultaneous withdrawal of life-sustaining measures. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is characterized by symptoms including muscle weakness, dysphagia, dysarthria, muscle spasms and progressive respiratory insufficiency. Due to these characteristic symptoms, palliative sedation might be considered to be necessary to alleviate refractory suffering in ALS patients. However, palliative sedation in ALS is only rarely discussed in current medical literature and guidelines. Methods A questionnaire survey was conducted among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany. The participants were asked to evaluate the use of palliative sedation in different situations. Results Two hundred and ninety-six completed questionnaires were analyzed. The results suggest high levels of support for the use of palliative sedation in ALS patients. 42% of the participants stated that they had already used palliative sedation in the treatment of ALS patients. Acceptance of palliative sedation was higher in case of physical symptoms than in case of psychological symptoms. Refusal of artificial nutrition did not lead to a lower acceptance of palliative sedation. Doctors with specialist training in palliative care had already used palliative sedation in ALS patients more often and they were more likely to accept palliative sedation in different situations than the participants without a background in palliative care. Conclusion Our survey showed that palliative sedation in ALS is widely accepted by the attending doctors. In case of psychological symptoms, palliative sedation is looked at with more concern than in case of physical symptoms. The refusal of artificial nutrition does not result in a decreased acceptance of palliative sedation. Doctors with specialist training in palliative care are more likely to approve of palliative sedation in ALS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02681-7Palliative sedationAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)Palliative care |
| spellingShingle | Laura Salzmann Bernd Alt-Epping Alfred Simon Palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany BMC Neurology Palliative sedation Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Palliative care |
| title | Palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany |
| title_full | Palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany |
| title_short | Palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in Germany |
| title_sort | palliative sedation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis results of a nationwide survey among neurologists and palliative care practitioners in germany |
| topic | Palliative sedation Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) Palliative care |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12883-022-02681-7 |
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