Guide to Palliative Care Board Review

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From Blogs to Boards: Answer Key
Editors:
• Suzana Makowski
• Drew Rosielle
• Paul Tatum
• Eric Widera
• Christian Sinclair
Page 1 of 48

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From Blogs to Boards
Goals of this session:
§ Prepare for the boards with an audience response quizz hosted by Pallimed & Geripal bloggers
§ Review recent, clinically relevant literature on Palliative Care
§ Discover three methods to obtain quality up-to-date information on palliative care
Board Review Content:
Page 2 of 48
Board Content
8%
7%
6%
45%
11%
9%
5%
9%
Approach to Care
Psychosocial & Spiritual Concerns
Impending Death
Grief & Bereavement
Medical Management
Communication & Teamwork
Ethical & Legal Decision-Making
Prognostication

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Notes Question HPM1
Page 3 of 48
Ms. V is a 68 year old with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, congestive heart failure, and
mild renal insufficiency residing in an inpatient palliative care unit for management of bone
pain. Her medications include morphine IR, fentanyl transdermal patch, furosemide, senna,
and Fleet enema’s prn. Ms. V did not have a bowel movement in 4 days. Basic labs were
ordered for the next morning as well as a two of her prn enemas, although they failed to result
in a bowel movement. The labs the next day reveal a serum sodium of 124, potassium of 3.0,
creatinine of 1.4 (baseline of 1), low calcium of 6.5, and a very elevated phosphate of 17 mg/dl.
What is the most likely cause of her electrolyte abnormalities?
a) A medication adverse event
b) Tumor lysis syndrome
c) Bowel Impaction
d) Osteolytic metastases
Discussion: Correct answer is (a)
a) Sodium phosphate preparations should never be given to patients with renal
insufficiency, heart failure, cirrhosis, or elderly frail individuals due to significant risks
of adverse effect. Both oral and rectal sodium phosphate preparations can cause
significant fluid shifts within the colon resulting in intravascular volume depletion.
Furthermore, these preparations can cause electrolyte disturbances including
significant hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, and hypokalemia. A significant
clinically important rise in serum phosphate can even be seen in elderly patients with
normal renal function. (J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2004;19(1):68). Lastly, phosphate
nephropathy may occur due to the transient and potentially severe increase in serum
phosphate combined with volume depletion from the fluid shifts.
b) Tumor lysis may indeed cause hyperphosphatemia and hypocalcemia, although it is
generally seen in with cytotoxic therapy in patients with a large tumor burden with
rapid cell turnover (ie. Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma or certain leukemias). It is also
associated with hyperkalemia.
c) Bowel impaction alone should not cause these electrolyte disturbances
d) Osteolytic metastases generally cause hypercalcemia.
References:
• http://www.geripal.org/2012/02/dangers-of-fleet-enemas.html

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Notes Question HPM2
Page 4 of 48
Walking into a room at your hospice inpatient unit you see a tired appearing female patient
lying in bed with soft moaning, holding her abdomen. She has end stage CHF and no history of
cancer. Review of your notes show decreasing oral intake and increased time in bed. Her nurse
reports she disimpacted her yesterday after suppositories and enemas were ineffective for
worsening constipation.
Medications include: Fentanyl 50mcg patch (on for several weeks), Senna 2 tabs BID, Colace
daily, Recent enema, and docusate suppository
Exam: Cachectic female, Scaphoid abdomen, hypoactive bowel sounds, formed (but not hard)
stool on rectal exam.
What is the next best step?
a) Write an order for methylnaltrexone 8mg subcutaneously x1 now.
b) Switch her from a fentanyl patch to a morphine pump so you can better manage her
abdominal pain.
c) Write an order for octreotide 200mcg subcutaneously twice daily for three days
d) Place an NG and give her polyethylene glycol daily until she has a bowel movement or
regains ability to swallow and you can remove the NG tube
a) The patient likely has opioid induced constipation (OIC). Methylnaltrexone is a mu-opioid
receptor antagonist and is related to naloxone. After ruling out bowel
obstruction, fecal impaction and any other abdominal process, you give
methylnaltrexone at 0.15mg/kg subcutaneously, usually 8 (patients < 136lbs) or 12 mg
(patients over 136lbs). About 60 percent of patients will have a BM in under 4 hours.
Usually within 30 minutes of the first dose. Number needed to treat was 2.2 (pretty
darn good). One barrier is cost. At $48 per 8mg dose this is a costly way to manage
constipation.
b) While controlling abdominal pain is important relieving the cause of the abdominal
pain takes precedence. Opioids may be the cause of her pain – increasing them is not
indicated. With the exception of imminently dying patients, proper treatment of OIC
will lead to its resolution and function can be improved.
c) Octreotide has a role in palliative care for malignant bowel obstruction (MBO), not
constipation. This patient does not have a cancer history and sudden onset nausea and
vomiting that may be signs for a MBO. Octreotide also is expensive-costing between
$40 and $80 per dose.
d) Placing a nasogastric tube should be avoided whenever possible when there are less
invasive measures available. The patient can swallow oral laxatives, and does not
have an MBO and so does not have any minimal indications for an NGT in any case.
Polyethylene glycol is helpful as an osmotic laxative and is often employed as a first
line option for OIC. It is often more helpful as part of a maintenance regimen or for
mild to moderate constipation.
References:
• Thomas, Jay et. al. Methylnaltrexone for Opioid Induced Constipation in Advanced
Illness. 2008. NEJM 358 (22): 2332-2343.
• Yuan, Chun-Su. Methylnaltrexone Mechanisms of Action and Effects on Opioid
Bowel Dysfuction and Other Opioid Adverse Side Effects. The Annals of
Pharmacotherapy, 2007. 41: 984- 993

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Notes Question HPM3
Page 5 of 48
During a hospice interdisciplinary team meeting, you hear about a 53 year old resident of the
local nursing home. He has ALS with bulbar attributes, and is starting to have difficulty
swallowing and speaking. He is bedbound most of the day. He has had two episodes of
aspiration pneumonia in the last month.
His nurse describes the scene with the patient’s wife, Sally, at his side, squeezing his hand with
one hand and her rosary with the other.
He explained to the nurse, “I told Sally that I don’t want a feeding tube. I’ve had a good life
and have few regrets. I saw my father-in-law die on a feeding tube and I would not want to go
through that, or put my wife through that. But I am Catholic. Our friend at the parish said that I
have to ‘do everything’ to prolong my life – especially when it comes to nutrition - or I will go
hell. I don’t want to go to hell.” His wife nods emphatically.
During the interdisciplinary care meeting, the chaplain (in his role as teacher) asks you to
explain to the team what your understanding of the Catholic doctrine is as pertaining to this
patient.
What do you say?
a) My understanding is that medically assisted nutrition is obligatory for patients who are
unable to take food by mouth.
b) My understanding is that medically assisted nutrition is morally optional for most
patients at the end of life.
Discussion: Correct answer is (b)
a) Some interpret the teachings of the church to mandate artificial nutrition at the end of
life, especially with the media coverage of Terri Schiavo. But the doctrine is more
nuanced than that. “58. In principle, there is an obligation to provide patients with food
and water, including medically assisted nutrition and hydration for those who cannot
take food orally. This obligation extends to patients in chronic and presumably
irreversible conditions (e.g., the “persistent vegetative state”) who can reasonably be
expected to live indefinitely if given such care.” (from: section 58. Ethical and
Religious Directives for Catholic Health Care Services.)
b) The discussion is actually more complex then that: Medically-assisted nutrition and
hydration become morally optional when they cannot reasonably be expected to
prolong life or when they would be “excessively burdensome for the patient or [would]
cause significant physical discomfort, for example resulting from complications in the
use of the means employed. “59. The free and informed judgment made by a
competent adult patient concerning the use or withdrawal of life-sustaining procedures
should always be respected and normally complied with, unless it is contrary to
Catholic moral teaching.” (from: section 59. Ethical and Religious Directives for
Catholic Health Care Services.)
References:
http://www.pallimed.org/2010/01/catholic-directives-on-artificial.html
http://www.pallimed.org/2008/08/media-coverage-of-terri-schiavo.html

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Notes Question HPM4
Page 6 of 48
Mrs Dole, a 68 year old with 20 year history of Diabetes Mellitus Type II is referred to
Palliative Care from Oncology with Stage III Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Nausea is the key
concern. For last 3 years she has had early satiety but maintained weight. Since initiating
chemotherapy, she has had nausea for the first 2 days of her chemotherapy cycle, which then
resolves.
1 week after the last round of chemotherapy she required intravenous fluids for dehydration.
Now 2 weeks later is having intermittent severe nausea. It can be provoked by sudden changes
in body position. She fell once because she lost her balance. Usually she does not vomit, but
occasionally does. She describes a feeling of the room spinning associated with the nausea.
Of the following options, which drug is most targeted to this patient’s specific nausea type:
a) Ondansetron
b) Prochlorperazine
c) Metoclopramide
d) Diazepam
e) Meclizine
Discussion: (e) are the correct answers
This patient has had multiple types of nausea, however currently her major nausea type seems
to be vestibular. She may have developed an otolith while dehydrated. Some chemotherapeutic
agents are ototoxic and can cause vestibular symptoms including hearing loss, tinnitus,
vertigo/nausea. She also has had chemotherapy induced nausea, as well as diabetic
gastroparsis. For the boards, probably the default choice for nausea will be D2 blockers,
however there are certain types of nausea for which D2 blockers are not the best choice.
a) Ondansetron and the other ‘-setrons’ are HT3 receptor blockers and have excellent
evidence for the treatment of chemotherapy induced nausea, and post-operative
nausea. While used widely for other types of nausea including opioid-associated, there
is less evidence to support them for these practices. They are exceedingly safe and
well-tolerated; they are constipating.
*** Chemotherapy induced nausea/vomiting is considered acute when it occurs <24h
after chemo infusion, and delayed if >24h. Delayed n/v usually occurs in the several
days after chemotherapy, but not weeks. First line treatments to prevent acute CINV
including 5HT3 blockers and steroids. NK-1 blockers such as aprepitant and
gluclocorticoids are also used, especially for mod-highly emetogenic chemo. NK-1
blockers and steroids also prevent delayed N/V; 5HT3 blockers less so. D2 blockers
are no longer first line agents as 5HT3 blockers have clearly shown superior efficacy
and safety. Doses of metoclopramide needed to be effective are 1-2mg/kg IV!
b) Prochlorperazine and other D2 blockers such as haloperidol target the Chemoreceptor
trigger zone and D2 receptor. They are the work-horses of nausea treatment.
c) While the patient has some component of diabetic gastroparesis suggested by satiety
and long history of DM, he is not bothered by emesis with meals. Metoclopramide
targets D2 receptors primarily in the gut, and has some prokinetic features, but its role
long-term for gastroparesis is controversial as it causes EPS such as tardive dyskinesia.
d) Diazepam and benzodiazepines are effective for anticipatory nausea/vomiting which
occurs in ~25% of chemo patients. Behavorial/cognitive treatments, and integrative
modalities are probably helpful too. Aggressive prevention of CINV can help prevent
anticipatory n/v.
e) She has what seems to be vestibular symptoms. Anticholinergic drugs such as
meclizine, scopolamine, promethazine, and even diphenhydramine are potential drugs.
CNS side effects such as sedation, confusion; as well as orthostatis and xerostomia are
worrisome side effects.
References:
• http://www.pallimed.org/2007/09/vatican-tube-feeding-more-on-abigail.html
• http://jama.ama-assn.org/content/298/10/1196.full.pdf+html
• Hain TC, Uddin M. Pharmacological treatment of vertigo. CNS
Drugs. 2003;17:85–100.
• http://www.oncolink.org/resources/article.cfm?c=16&s=59&ss=224&id=1004

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Notes Question HPM5
Page 7 of 48
In hospice IDT, you discuss the case of a 68 year old female with ovarian cancer with abdominal
pain and sudden onset nausea and vomiting. She has had no recent bowel movements and is on
minimal opioids. You suggest a trial of octreotide for a likely malignant bowel obstruction and the
nurses say “Doctor! You say we can use octreotide for everything! Is there anything octreotide
can’t be used for in hospice?”
Which one of the following is not a potential scenario to use octreotide? Choose the best answer.
Answers
a) A 37 year old male with end stage alcoholic hepatitis who starts vomiting blood
b) A 90 year old with a severe diarrhea with a history of a rectal tumor and radiation burns to
the perineal area
c) A 42 year old female with a tense distended abdomen leaking a small amount from a
previous paracentesis site.
d) A 27 year old male with a malignant wound with copious drainage
e) A 31 year old female with abdominal pain from opioid-induced constipation
Discussion: Answer is (e)
a) Octreotide is the Swiss Army Knife of palliative medications. It is a synthetic analog of
somatostatin and has many mechanisms of action: in general, it has a global effect to
decrease secretions primarily in the GI tract It can be costly as a medication alone but it
could reduce the system cost by avoiding hospitalizations. You should talk with your
local pharmacist to see about availability and cost in your local programs. It is typically
administered via intermittent subcutaneous dosing.
Study published in 2000 compared octreotide infusion with sclerotherapy and found that
octreotide to be as effective as sclerotherapy regarding hemostasis at 48 hours and on day
7 after the index bleeding episode. So for the patient looking to avoid hospitalization with
acute variceal bleed this may be a helpful (but expensive) medication.
b) While it does not work as a prophylactic treatment to prevent chemo and radiation
induced diarrhea a few studies have shown that it can treat existing diarrhea related to
these two common cancer treatments.
c) Rapidly accumulating ascites or situations where repeat paracentesis or drain may not be
readily available have been shown to be responsive to octreotide. It also has been
reported for use in pleural effusions related to cirrhosis.
d) Tumor related secretions have been show to respond to octreotide
e) Indications for octreotide include (via palliativedrugs.com) : symptoms associated with
unresectable hormone-secreting tumors, e.g. carcinoid, VIPomas, glucagonomas and
acromegaly; prevention of complications after elective pancreatic surgery; †bleeding
esophageal varices; †salivary, pancreatic and enterocutaneous fistulas; †intractable
diarrhea related to high output ileostomies, AIDS, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or bone
marrow transplant;†inoperable bowel obstruction in patients with cancer; †hypertrophic
pulmonary osteo-arthopathy;†ascites in cirrhosis and cancer; †buccal fistula; †death rattle
(noisy respiratory secretions); †bronchorrhea;†reduction of tumor-related secretions.
References:
§ http://cases.pallimed.org/2008/06/am-i-really-going-to-have-to-live-like.html
§ http://www.pallimed.org/2008/11/octreotide-for-radiation-induced.html
§ Freitas DS, Sofia C, Pontes JM, Gregório C, Cabral JP, Andrade P, Rosa A, Camacho E,
Ferreira M, Portela F.... (2000) Octreotide in acute bleeding esophageal varices: a
prospective randomized study. Hepato-gastroenterology, 47(35), 1310-4. PMID:
11100339
§ Kalambokis, G. (2006-01) Octreotide in the treatment of refractory ascites of cirrhosis.
Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology, 14(1), 199-121. DOI:
10.1080/00365520510024043 M
§ Martenson et al. The efficacy of octreotide in the therapy of acute radiation-induced
diarrhea: a randomized controlled study. International Journal of Radiation
OncologyBiologyPhysics, 54(1), 195-202. DOI: 10.1016/S0360-3016(02)02870-5

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Notes Question HPM6
Page 8 of 48
You visit a patient at home receiving hospice care for cancer. Her pain has been well controlled with
long acting morphine 60mg BID and occasional PRN doses of short acting liquid morphine (10mg)
over the past few weeks: she had been tolerating this well. She has had recent progressive functional
decline and is currently at a PPS of 20%. In the last 24 hours the patient has vomited and has been
more lethargic and having difficulty swallowing pills. She appears uncomfortable. In your
examination you see a very thin patient who appears to be dying with a prognosis in the few days to a
week range.
The patient’s son is a respiratory therapist at a hospital and is insisting you change the patient’s opioid
to a fentanyl patch because “it is less sedating than morphine.”
The best response is:
a) Because the patient is cachectic, you tell the family that fentanyl transdermal patches are not
indicated because the medication will not be absorbed.
b) Agree with the son and convert the patient to a 37.5mcg/hr fentanyl patch with oral morphine
liquid 10mg q1 hour PRN
c) Because the fentanyl will not be effective for over 24 hours, continue the long acting
morphine sulfate 60mg BID but give it rectally instead of by mouth
d) Suggest starting a morphine infusion via her port at 1.7mg/hr basal with a 3mg q30min bolus
PRN after talking with the son about his concerns about sedation.
Discussion: Answer is (d)
a) Cachexia has not been show to be a CLINICALLY RELEVALANT factor in absorption of
transdermal fentanyl. Cachexia will decrease the amount of subcutaneous fat which is where
fentanyl is stored AFTER absorption through the dermal layers. In 2009 Heiskanen did a
study comparing blood levels between cachectic and non-cachectic volunteers and found no
significant difference, although cachectic patients had a slightly lower mean concentration.
There was no difference in VAS score.
b) Fentanyl is not less sedating than morphine at equianalgesic doses. Also there is no
37.5mcg/hr patch or 12.5mcg/hr patch. As written, and described by the manufacturer, the
“12.5mcg/hr patch” is labeled and Rx’d as a “12mcg/hr” patch to prevent confusion with
Rx’ing 125mcg/hr. As for the conversion, it could be acceptable to use a 25mcg/hr &
12mcg/hr patch (total 37mcg/hr) per the Fentanyl transdermal product insert. It recommends
25mcg/hr for someone on OMDD of 60-134mg and 50mcg/hr for someone on OMDD 135-
224, so this is right in the middle. The Breitbart/Donner conversion of 2mg morphine =
1mcg/hr transdermal fentanyl which would be 60mcg/hr of fentanyl (You could choose 50 or
75 depending on other clinical circumstances).
c) The pharmacokinetics of fentanyl do not warrant switching to it if otherwise indicated.
Morphine still has time to circulate and get out of her system, and fentanyl begins to reach
significant blood concentrations 8-12 hours after application. If needed, she can be bridged
with a few doses of liquid morphine. In addition, people do not prefer rectal administration if
it could be avoided.
d) A morphine continuous infusion allows for the continuation of the current effective opioid in
a patient who is likely not going to regain swallowing function. The conversion is most
direct (120mg OMDD = 40mg daily IV = 1.7mg/hr (1.5 if your pumps are limited in decimal
rates). A 3 mg IV morphine bolus most closely replicates the 10mg oral morphine doses that
were effective prior. If you did not choose this answer because your hospice doesn’t use
continuous infusions (expense, nurse familiarity, not available from local pharmacy) then
start talking with your hospice to decrease these barriers to an effective and essential tool to
good pain management.
References:
• http://www.pallimed.org/2009/05/cachexia-and-absorption-of-transdermal.html
• Heiskanen, Tarja. (2009-7) Transdermal fentanyl in cachectic cancer patients. PAIN, 70(1-2),
928-222. DOI: 10.1016/j.pain.2009.04.012
• Mercadante, Sebastiano. (2012-01-09) Sustained-release oral morphine versus transdermal
fentanyl and oral methadone in cancer pain management. European Journal of Pain, 7(Suppl.

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Page 9 of 48
A), 320-1046. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2008.01.013
• Weissman DE. Converting to/from Transdermal Fentanyl, 2nd Edition. Fast Facts and
Concepts. July 2005; 2. Available at: http://www.eperc.mcw.edu/fastfact/ff_002.htm.
• Tatum IV WO. (2002) Adult patient perceptions of emergency rectal medications for
refractory seizures. Epilepsy & behavior : E&B, 3(6), 535-538. PMID: 12609248
• Colbert SA, O'Hanlon D, McAnena O, & Flynn N. (1998) The attitudes of patients and health
care personnel to rectal drug administration following day case surgery. European journal of
anaesthesiology, 15(4), 422-6. PMID: 9699099
• Mercadante, Sebastiano. (2012-01-09) Sustained-release oral morphine versus transdermal
fentanyl and oral methadone in cancer pain management. European Journal of Pain, 7(Suppl.
A), 320-1046. DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2008.01.013

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Notes Question HPM7
Page 10 of 48
JY, a 28 year old woman with advanced cystic fibrosis and Burkholderia cenocepacia
colonization is hospitalized for a cystic fibrosis exacerbation. She has chronic chest wall pain
from coughing and pleurisy, and recently broke 2 ribs from coughing. She is on IV
glucocorticoids, IV ketorolac, IV ketamine prior to vest treatments, and lorazepam. Prior to her
hospitalization, she took oxycodone ER 30mg q12h. Currently she is on a hydromorphone IV
PCA at 2mg/hour, with 2mg q30 minute boluses. She used 72mg of IV dilaudid in the last 24h.
Despite this she is becoming drowsy, and reports her pain is minimally improved and still
severe for most of the day: 7-8/10, and ‘nearly intolerable’ during vest therapy
The best next step is to:
a) Increase her PCA basal and ‘bolus’ doses by 50% and monitor for 24 hours.
b) Add a 5% lidocaine patch to her chest wall over her rib fractures
c) Discontinue hydromorphone and switch the patient to another opioid
d) Advise the primary team to stop vest therapies
Discussion: Correct answer (c)
a) Indications for opioid rotation are 1) dose-limiting side effects such as sedation,
nausea, pruritus, myoclonus from the patient’s current opioid, 2) need for a new dosing
route (patient cannot swallow), 3) costs/insurance changes, 4) inadequate analgesia
despite ‘adequate’ dose-escalation of the current opioid. There is no consensus on what
4 actually means, however rapidly escalating someone by an order of magnitude (as in
this case) without good response, is generally a scenario in which you’d consider
rotation (if not long before). Is not best next step given the above discussion
b) No data at all suggesting the lidocaine patch is effective for pain from fractures
c) Is the correct answer: Morphine, methadone, or fentanyl are all reasonable options.
Some prefer methadone in these sorts of settings, but no actual data to support that and
probably not tested on the boards. Another reasonable approach in this situation
would be to consult a pain interventionalist for regional options.
d) Opioid rotation is reasonable first, before advising this, as it will likely affect the
patient’s ability to recover.
References:
• http://www.pallimed.org/2008/07/methadone-methadone-methadone.html
• http://www.pallimed.org/2010/01/outpatient-rotations-to-methadone.html
• http://www.pallimed.org/2005/07/transdermal-fentanyl-to-methadone.html

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Notes Question HPM8
Page 11 of 48
Mr. Smith is a 72 year old patient was admitted to hospital from his nursing home for
respiratory distress due to CHF exacerbation. Despite aggressive diuresis attempts, his
respiratory distress continued and his urine output remained minimal (~30ml/day).
PMH: heart failure, moderate dementia, renal insufficiency
Home medications: furosemide 40mg po bid, metoprolol 25mg bid, donepezil 10mg daily,
olanzapine 5mg qhs.
After a conversation with his son (health care proxy) the patient was "made CMO" (comfort
measures only) by the hospitalist service and resident team two days ago. He was then started
on a morphine drip “titrate by 1mg as needed for pain or shortness of breath”, his donepezil,
olanzapine and diuretics continued, other medications stopped.
His intern calls in a panic: “We promised to make him comfortable, that he would die in 2 days,
but he is still alive and the family does not know why he is in such pain – even with light touch
– crying out & jerking.”
What is your recommendation?
a) Stop morphine drip and start fentanyl and lorazepam prn
b) Increase morphine and olanzapine
c) Increase morphine and add lorazepam prn
d) Stop morphine drip and start fentanyl, increase olanzapine
Discussion: Correct answer (a)
Key points:
• Opioid neurotoxicity in the setting of renal failure/azotemia is the most likely answer.
Morphine metabolites build up disproportionately in the setting of renal failure.
Morphine 3-glucoronide is a neurostimulant that can lead to agitated delirium,
myoclonus, hyperalgesia, and even seizures. Morphine and hydromorphone are the
most common culprits. Morphine 6-glucoronide is a metabolite that is active on the
mu-opioid receptor, and thus is not a major player in terms of inducing agitated
neurotoxicity.
• Fentanyl does not have the same metabolites and thus has a lower risk of agitated
neurotoxicity. Since there are no active metabolites that build up in renal failure, it is
the safest of the “pure” opioids for patients on dialysis or who are oliguric. Methadone
is another opioid that is nearly ~100% excreted in the stool
• The treatment for this is to rotate off current opioid. Fentanyl is safer option in renal
failure.
• Antipsychotics can worsen the symptoms
• Benzodiazepines can help treat myoclonus and prevent seizures
References:
Robin K Wilson, David E Weissman; Neuroexcitatory effects of opioids: patient assessment,
2nd ed. EPERC# 057 http://www.eperc.mcw.edu/EPERC/FastFactsIndex/ff_057.htm
http://www.aahpm.org/apps/blog/?tag=boards
Smith, H. S. (2009). Opioid metabolism. Mayo Clinic proceedings. Mayo Clinic, 84(7), 613-24.

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Notes Question HPM9
Page 12 of 48
BJ, a 65 yo woman with known non-small cell lung cancer, metastatic to her mediastinum,
contralateral lung, and supraclavicular lymph nodes, returns to your clinic for follow-up for her
cancer-related pain. She is getting chemotherapy, and has always expressed a desire for ‘the
most aggressive’ treatments available for her cancer.
She complains of 2 weeks of worsening, midline low back pain. She has noticed difficulty in
rising from chairs/toilet, and needed a wheelchair to make it into the clinic area today from the
parking garage due to weakness. Examination is notable for an unremarkable back/spine exam,
and 4/5 strength bilaterally in her lower extremities both proximally and distally.
You obtain a stat MRI which shows a T12 vertebral metastasis and cord compression.
In addition to administering glucocorticoids, then next best step is to:
a) Arrange an urgent radiation oncology consultation for the next day.
b) Admit her to the hospital, and arrange a stat radiation oncology consultation.
c) Admit her to the hospital, and arrange a stat spine surgery consultation.
d) Adjust her pain medications appropriately, and instruct her to contact you immediately
if her pain or disability worsens
Discussion: Correct answer is (c)
This is a medical emergency.
• Vertebral metastases, putting a patient at risk for cord compression, should be
considered in any patient with new back pain and cancer. New or otherwise suspicious
back-pain can be evaluated urgently with a non-contrast MRI of the entire spine.
• If patients have neurologic symptoms of LE weakness and/or bladder, bowel
dysfunction, it is a medical emergency and patients needs stat imaging, steroids, and
intervention. Neurologic deficits, once present, can rapidly progress to permanent
paraplegia within 24h.
• The role of steroids + XRT vs steroids + surgery is unclear. A recent trial indicated
better outcomes with immediate surgery, especially for patients who came in with
severe weakness. 84% of patients vs 54% were ambulatory after treatment course with
surgery vs radiation without surgery. Actual practice has not necessarily caught up
with this, and will depend on local, institutional resources.
References:
• http://www.pallimed.org/2005/08/surgery-better-than-radiation-steroids.html
• http://www.pallimed.org/2008/03/spinal-cord-compression-copd-prognosis.html
• http://www.eperc.mcw.edu/EPERC/FastFactsIndex/ff_237.htm

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Notes Question HPM10
Page 13 of 48
Mr. G. Da Salva is a 68 year old construction worker who has metastatic non-small cell lung
cancer involving his right femur and pelvis.
Medications include: Morphine ER 200mg bid, Morphine IR 30-60mg PO q2 hours prn, and
dexamethasone 8mg daily. At rest his pain is well managed, 2/10.
However, he fears movement due to severe pain and spends most of the day in his recliner,
avoiding showering or changing or helping with the meals. He uses approximately 5 doses daily
of 60mg short-acting morphine for this pain but once it starts to work the pain has often
spontaneously subsided and he becomes sleepy and confused.
Which of the following is LEAST appropriate?
a) Take a short-acting morphine prior to a clustering his activities: showering, changing,
fixing a meal.
b) Add sublingual fentanyl 200mcg to take prior to his activities.
c) Increase his long-acting morphine to 200mg tid.
d) Single-fraction radiation therapy to his pelvis and femur.
e) Intrathecal pump with morphine and low-dose bupivacaine.
This is an example of incidental pain. It differs from breakthrough pain in that it is associated
with movement, and diminishes as soon as the activity ends. The challenge with this form of pain
management is that the pharmacology of systemic opioids does not tend to match the timing of
this type of pain.
a) Clustering his activities together so that they all take longer may better match the t1/2 of
the short-acting morphine, but he will still need to take the medicine approximately 40
minutes prior to starting the activities.
b) Sublingual or buccal fentanyl has a shorter half-life and shorter time to onset than other
oral opioids and is a better option.
c) Is the correct answer: Increasing the long-acting morphine is the least appropriate
because this will not help the incidental pain and may worsen his confusion when he is
not moving around.
d) Single fraction radiation therapy would be very appropriate in this setting and would
likely be one of the most preferred interventions as long as he had not previously been
irradiated at the site of pain.
e) Intrathecal pain medication delivery is another good option. However, this is an
expensive procedure and requires a prognosis of at least 3 months to assure coverage by
insurance plans. Because the dose of opioid is a fraction of systemic opioid delivery, its
risk of side-effects is lower and is a more effective means of managing incidental pain in
the lower back and lower extremities.
References:
• http://www.aahpm.org/apps/blog/?p=809
• http://www.pallimed.org/2009/12/poll-results-palliative-care-experience.html
• Bruera, E., & Kim, H. N. (2003). Cancer pain. JAMA : the journal of the American
Medical Association, 290(18), 2476-9.
• Chow, E., Harris, K., Fan, G., Tsao, M., & Sze, W. M. (2007). Palliative radiotherapy
trials for bone metastases: a systematic review. Journal of clinical oncology : official
journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 25(11), 1423-36.
• Smith, T. J., Swainey, C., & Coyne, P. J. (2005). Pain management, including intrathecal
pumps. Current Pain and Headache Reports, 9(4), 243-248. Current Medicine Group
LLC.

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Mr. Z is a 87 year old with advanced dementia living in a nursing home. At baseline he cannot
recognize family members, is dependent on all ADLs (dressing, toileting, bathing) but does not
have urinary or fecal incontinence. He speaks about 1-2 intelligible words per day and he has had
progressive loss of ability to ambulate. He is now admitted to the hospital after sustaining a hip
fracture from a fall.
When discussing treatment options for his hip fracture, his wife asks you how long he likely has to
live.
Given his current state of health, what would be the most appropriate answer:
a) Given that he does not meet FAST 7C criteria his prognosis is likely greater than 6
months
b) He meets NHPCO Guidelines for hospice eligibility which means he likely has less than a
6 month prognosis
c) Given his advanced dementia and recent hip fracture, his 6 month mortality risk exceeds
50%
d) As with most individuals with advanced dementia, his life expectancy is likely weeks to
months
References:
a) The FAST scale measures functional status in dementia and consists of 7 major stages
split into 16 different sub-stages. Hospice eligibility criteria for dementia are based
largely on whether a patient meets or exceeds Stage 7c on the FAST and whether they
have at least one complication from their dementia. Unfortunately, these criteria do not
accurately predict 6-month survival.
b) The current National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) guidelines for
hospice eligibility are of limited accuracy in predicting death within 6 months. In
addition, NHPCO guidelines relies on the FAST staging, which fails to account for the
observation that dementia often does not progress in a sequential pattern. The patient is
dependent on ADLs (dressing, toileting, bathing) but does not have urinary or fecal
incontinence (FAST Stage 6d and 6e). His speech has declined from less than 6
intelligible words per day (7a) to one or less (7b), and he has had progressive loss of
ability to ambulate (7C), however since he does not have 6d and 6e, Mr. Z is not
considered Fast Stage 7c, rather he is Fast 6C.
c) Is the correct answer: Individuals with advanced dementia that are either hospitalized for
either pneumonia or for hip fracture have a very poor prognosis. In one study, six-month
mortality for patients with end-stage dementia and hip fracture was 55% compared with
12% for cognitively intact patients.
d) Advanced dementia is a terminal condition; however estimating prognosis is difficult due
to the prolonged period of severe functional and cognitive impairment that occurs prior to
death. For those with advanced disease who reside in a nursing home, the 6-month
mortality rate is 25% with a median survival in one study of only 478 days.
References:
§ http://www.geripal.org/2009/10/there-is-important-article-in-current.html
§ www.eprognosis.org
§ Mitchell SL, Miller SC, Teno JM, Kiely DK, Davis RB, Shaffer ML. Prediction of 6-month
survival of nursing home residents with advanced dementia using ADEPT vs hospice
eligibility guidelines. JAMA. Nov 3 2010;304(17):1929-1935.
§ Morrison RS, Siu AL. Survival in end-stage dementia following acute illness. Jama. Jul 5
2000;284(1):47-52.
§ Mitchell SL, Teno JM, Kiely DK, et al. The clinical course of advanced dementia. N Engl J
Med. Oct 15 2009;361(16):1529-1538.

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Mrs. A is an 88 year old with advanced dementia who lives in a nursing home. She has at
baseline some difficulty with eating as she pockets food in her mouth and occasionally coughs
after swallowing. She is now hospitalized for an aspiration pneumonia. In addition to the
antibiotics she is on in the hospital, her only other medications include HCTZ for hypertension
and a baby aspirin. She has never taken a cholinesterase inhibitor .
What is the best next step?
a) A trial of both a cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine
b) Feeding tube insertion
c) Careful hand feeding and good oral care
d) Addition of olanzapine to treat her pocketing of food behavior
a) Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, such as donepezil, galantamine, and rivastigmine, and
the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) antagonist memantine have some evidence for a
statistically significant improvement in cognitive, functional, and behavioral outcomes
in indivudals with moderate-to-severe dementia. However, these improvements have
marginal clinical significance. Adverse events are common with these agents, most
commonly nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. There is no evidence to suggest that they
decrease eating problems or risk for aspirations.
b) Placement of PEG tubes often occur after transfer to an acute care facility for eating
problems or pneumonia, despite the fact that feeding tubes have not been shown to
improve survival for individuals with dementia. There is also no evidence that tube
feeding prevents aspiration pneumonia, decreases the risk for pressure ulcers, improves
patient comfort, or prolongs life.
c) Oral care has been shown to decrease incidence of pneumonia, number of febrile days,
and death from pneumonia in nursing home residents.
d) Antipsychotics have not been shown to improve eating behaviors in dementia. There is
a moderate short-term efficacy when treating agitation, serious side effects that include
risk of stroke and death limit their clinical use.
References:
• http://www.geripal.org/2011/07/decisions-on-feeding-tubes-in-advanced.html
• Finucane TE, Christmas C, Travis K. Tube feeding in patients with advanced dementia:
a review of the evidence. JAMA. Oct 13 1999;282(14):1365-1370.
• Yoneyama T, Yoshida M, Ohrui T, et al. Oral care reduces pneumonia in older patients
in nursing homes. J Am Geriatr Soc. Mar 2002;50(3):430-433.
• Schneider LS, Tariot PN, Dagerman KS, et al. Effectiveness of atypical antipsychotic
drugs in patients with Alzheimer's disease. N Engl J Med. Oct 12 2006;355(15):1525-
1538

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Notes Question HPM12 – Part 2
Page 16 of 48
The family is concerned that Mrs. A’s aspirations will continue if she continues to be fed by
hand in the nursing home. They would like to know about more about the risks of a feeding
tube placement.
The most appropriate risk to include in the discussion is:
a) She will have a 1 in 10 chance of a major surgical complication in the perioperative
period.
b) She is unlikely to have a tube related complication after the perioperative period
c) Once the tube is placed, it would be technically difficult to electively remove the tube
d) She will have a 1 in 3 chance of requiring chemical or physical restraints to prevent
tube removal
Discussion: Correct answer is (d)
a) Up to one-third experience transient gastrointestinal adverse effects (ie, vomiting,
diarrhea) but major complications like bowel perforations are rare (1%)
b) Tube dislodgement, blockage, and leakage are common (4%-11%). One in 5 tube-fed
residents experiencing a tube related complication necessitating a hospital transfer in
the year following insertion.
c) Removal of feeding tubes is not technically difficult. An important pearl to know is
that if a feeding tube is inadvertently removed, the stoma site will close in a few hours,
so put in a Foley catheter to keep it open until a new one can be placed.
d) Over a quarter of tube fed dementia patients are physically restrained after feeding tube
placement, and nearly a third are placed on sedating medications to prevent them from
pulling out the feeding tube.
References:
• http://www.geripal.org/2011/07/decisions-on-feeding-tubes-in-advanced.html
• Teno JM et al. Decision-making and outcomes of feeding tube insertion: a five-state
study. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2011 May;59(5):881-6

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A 54 yo man with a 7 month history of metastatic bladder cancer presents to the cancer center’s
palliative care clinic. He complains of low mood, anhedonia, feelings of guilt, shame, and
worthlessness most days for the last 2 months. He says, “Of course I’m depressed – who
wouldn’t be? I’ve got a cancer that the doctors tell me is terminal. What good am I to my
family? They’d be better off without me.”
The best next step would be to:
a) Tell the patient that he is depressed and recommend a treatment plan for it.
b) Ask your team’s social worker to see the patient for grief counseling.
c) Provide emotional support and counseling with the patient that what he is experiencing
is part of the expected adjustment to having a terminal illness.
d) Refer the patient to psychiatry for complicated depression.
a) Psychiatric disorders including depression and anxiety disorders occur in only a
minority of patients at the end of life. Published numbers have ranged from 10-40%;
while higher than the general population, they are not the norm. Persistent low mood,
feelings of worthlessness, guilt, and shame are highly suggestive of depression. The
patient should be counseled about this and offered treatment
b) While this may end up being appropriate for this patient, his symptomotology is most
c/w depression and a) is the better answer.
c) See (a). This is not ‘normal.’
d) Complicated depression is not a diagnosis. He has untreated depression, and HPM
specialists should be able to initiate appropriate therapy!
References:
• Rayner L et al. Antidepressants for the treatment of depression in palliative care:
systematic review and metaanalysis. Palliat Med. 25(1):36-51. DOI:
10.1177/0269216310380764
• http://www.pallimed.org/2011/02/what-i-learned-at-aahpmhpna-annual.html
• Irwin SA. Oral ketamine for the rapid treatment of depression and anxiety in patients
receiving hospice care. JPM. 2010; 13:903-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20636166

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The patient agrees to pharmacologic therapy for his depression, and declines offers of
counseling/therapy. Your best estimate is that he has 4-8 weeks to live based on performance
status and tempo of decline.
Which of the following are appropriate drug approaches for his depression?
a) Methylphenidate
b) Ketamine
c) Dronabinol
d) Sertraline
Discussion: Correct answer are (a) and (b)
a) Is correct: Methylphenidate and other psychostimulants are rapidly-acting, with onset
of mood elevation occurring ~immediately (if they are going to be effective at all).
b) Is correct: Ketamine has been described as a depression therapy for decades, albeit one
on the margins of accepted medical practice; there is a recent resurgence in interest for
its use at life’s end, because its effects are immediate. Patients usually receive a single
infusion, which stabilizes mood for weeks at a time. Can be used orally too.
c) Dronabinol has no defined role as an antidepressant.
d) Most SSRIs take at least 4 weeks to become effective, which is 50-100% of the
patient’s anticipated survival. While SSRIs are first-line antidepressants in the general
population as well as for patients with advanced illness, this is not as true as prognosis
shortens.
References:
• Rayner L et al. Antidepressants for the treatment of depression in palliative care:
systematic review and metaanalysis. Palliat Med. 25(1):36-51. DOI:
10.1177/0269216310380764
• http://www.pallimed.org/2011/02/what-i-learned-at-aahpmhpna-annual.html
• Irwin SA. Oral ketamine for the rapid treatment of depression and anxiety in patients
receiving hospice care. JPM. 2010; 13:903-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20636166

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Notes Antidepressant Pop Quiz
Page 19 of 48
I say depression, insomnia, anorexia, nausea – You say:
a) Trazodone
b) Paroxetine
c) Mirtazipine
d) Escitalopram
I say depression, anxiety, insomnia, neuropathy, You say:
a) nortriptyline
b) duloxetine
c) fluoxetine
d) venlafaxine
I say activating antidepressants, You say
a) fluoxetine
b) paroxetine
c) buproprion
d) citalopram
I say depression, anxiety, neuropathic pain, advanced age, You say:
a) duloxetine
b) nortriptyline
c) paroxetine
d) mirtazapine
Discussion: Correct answers in order are: (c) – (a) – (a, c) – (a)
• Mirtazapine has side effects which include drowsiness and weight gain, plus some
antiemetic effects
• TCAs are the only drug class that directly treat all those symptoms (SNRIs – serotonin
norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors - like duloxetine and venlafaxine aren’t known to
be directly effective for insomnia).
• Paroxetine can be sedating; citalopram more neutral
• Duloxetine seems to be better tolerated than TCAs, especially in the elderly. For the
boards, would avoid giving elderly TCAs. Mirtazapine’s role in pain is not well
defined, especially compared to SNRIs and TCAs.

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Mrs. Phillips is a 91-year-old hospitalized patient who is now actively dying due to end-stage
pulmonary fibrosis and asbestosis. She has been well palliated during the last several months at
home where she lived independently, until she developed a pneumonia and was hospitalized. Her
home medications had not been adjusted in over six weeks. This included: albuterol and atropine
nebulizers, dexamethasone 2mg every morning, 25mcg/hour fentanyl patch for dyspnea,
oxycodone concentrate (20mg/ml) 10mg q2 hours prn dyspnea or pain, senna and Colace. She is
on day 7 of oral antibiotics for presumed pneumonia. She is on oxygen 6 liters via nasal cannula.
Her last bowel movement was yesterday, and her urine output has been good (250ml or more
daily.)
Yesterday she was still oriented, between periods of increasing fatigue and sleep. She showed
signs of mottling and new secretions causing respiratory rattle. A scopolamine patch 1.5mg was
started for her increased secretions.
You are called by the resident who explains to you that this morning Mrs. Phillips is now agitated,
moaning, and even thrashing at times. This is causing family and floor nurses distress. He asks
you for advice.
Which of the following is appropriate?
a) Stop scopolamine
b) Start lorazepam
c) Increase the fentanyl
d) Stop the fentanyl
e) Counsel family about the inevitability terminal delirium
f) Order soft restraints
Discussion: (a) is correct
Delirium is a common condition at the end-of-life. It often is considered “terminal” even if
reversible, however. Terminal delirium should be considered a diagnosis of exclusion or even one
made in hindsight. While conducting a battery of exhaustive tests to evaluate the cause is not
usually appropriate or necessary, causes of delirium should be addressed if possible. The most
common causes of delirium in this setting remain constipation, urinary retention, medications,
infection, electrolyte abnormalities. Constipation, urinary retention can be ruled out in this patient.
a) With this patient, the addition of scopolamine is the most likely cause. This is a tertiary
amine anticholinergic agent, and commonly causes confusion in the elderly.
b) Lorazepam is not the best option for delirium; neuroleptics, in addition to treating the
underlying cause (if feasible) are appropriate.
c) Fentanyl, on the other hand, is less likely the cause. She has been on a stable dose since
home and was previously tolerating it well. Stopping the fentanyl will likely increase
delirium, dyspnea and withdrawal symptoms. Increasing the fentanyl, similarly, is
unlikely to address the agitation – unless the patient has been responding to breakthrough
oxycodone.
d) As above
e) Family members should be comforted, but not that it is an inevitable part of dying.
f) Restraints should be avoided.
References:
• http://www.geripal.org/2010/06/ny-times-article-on-delirium.html

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Mr. J is 58 year old diagnosed with ALS 6 months ago. He is referred to your clinic by his
primary care doctor to help discuss options to treat a progressive weight loss. He currently lives
alone in an apartment, is independent of ADLs although he has been having difficulty feeding
himself due to proximal arm weakness. He complains that he occasionally bursts out crying or
laughing, but denies feeling depressed. His forced vital capacity (FVC) has remained at 70% for
the last 3 months.
The best next step to help treat his progressive weight loss?
a) Riluzole
b) PEG Placement
c) Mobile arm supports and modified cutlery
d) Non Invasive Positive Pressure Ventilation (NIPPV)
Discussion: (c) is the correct answer
a) Riluzole is the only available disease-modifying therapy for ALS. Based on clinical
trials, riluzole likely prolongs median survival in patients with ALS by 2-3 months
compared to patients taking placebo.(1) It does little to improve functional outcomes
or bulbar symptoms. There is no evidence to suggest that it is beneficial for weight
loss.
b) PEG placement should be discussed with any individual diagnosed with ALS,
although attempt to reverse other common reasons for weight loss is warranted before
PEG placement. Ideally, PEG tubes should be placed before FVC falls below 50%.
While PEG may be indicated for this patient in the future, currently C is the best
option.
c) Individuals living with ALS may have difficulty with the mechanics of both cooking
and putting food from the plate to the mouth. This may often contribute to weight loss,
especially for those individuals living alone. Occupational therapy may help maintain
adequate nutrition by supplying devices such as mobile arm supports and modified
cutlery.
d) NIPPV confers a survival benefit and improves quality of life in patients with normal
or moderately impaired bulbar function, although it does not improve weight
References:
• Miller RG, Mitchell JD, Lyon M, Moore DH. Riluzole for amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS)/motor neuron disease (MND). Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2007 Jan
24;(1):CD001447.
• Mitsumoto H, Rabkin, JG. Palliative Care for Patients With Amyotrophic Lateral
Sclerosis “Prepare for the Worst and Hope for the Best”. JAMA. 2007;298(2):207-216

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Mr G is a 74-year-old nursing home resident with coronary artery disease and end-stage renal
failure (eGFR of 12). He is considering starting treatment with dialysis but would like to know
more about what life will be like after starting dialysis.
What would be the most accurate statement in regards to his prognosis
a) His functional status is likely to improve with renal replacement therapy
b) His functional status is likely to be maintained at his pre-dialysis level
c) He is unlikely to have significant symptom burden if he elects not to initiate dialysis
d) The majority of nursing home residents die within one year of starting dialysis
Discussion: (d) is the correct answer
a) Based on a NEJM paper (1) that linked dialysis registry data to activities of daily
living measures reported by nursing homes in 3,702 patients, patients similar to Mr. G
did poorly. Within 3 months after the start of dialysis, 61% of the nursing home
residents had died or had a decrease in functional status as compared with their
functional status before dialysis. Only 39% had the same functional status that they
had before dialysis. By 12 months, almost all (87%) nursing home residents had died
or had a decrease in functional status after starting dialysis.
b) See a above
c) The last month of life for individuals who elect not to undergo renal replacement
therapy is associated with relatively high symptom burden, similar to that of advanced
cancer.(2) Common symptoms include lack of energy, itching, feeling drowsy,
shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating, pain, lack of appetite, and swelling of
arms/legs. Therefore, clinicians should attend to these symptoms as aggressively as
they do for patients with advanced cancer. We don’t know though whether symptom
burden is improve or worsened for elderly patients with multiple chronic conditions
who do elect for renal replacement therapy.
d) In the NEJM cited above, 58% of these nursing home residents had died 1 year after
initiating dialysis
References:
• http://www.geripal.org/2009/10/how-should-we-counsel-frail-nursing.html
• http://www.geripal.org/2010/09/dying-without-dialysis.html
• Kurella Tamura M, Covinsky KE, Chertow GM, Yaffe K, Landefeld CS, McCulloch
CE. Functional status of elderly adults before and after initiation of dialysis. N Engl J
Med 2009;361:1539-1547
• Murtagh FE, et al. Symptoms in the Month Before Death for Stage 5 Chronic Kidney
Disease Patients Managed Without Dialysis. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2010
Sep;40(3):342-52.

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George Condi is a 68 y/o male is admitted to ICU for respiratory crisis and found to have renal
cell carcinoma with a 13 cm mass in the R upper abdomen. He has severe pain, and dyspnea
with large R sided pleural effusion. With drainage of effusion his dyspnea is improved; a
tunneled pleural catheter is placed, and he is discharged to home hospice with a PPS of 50.
The next day his wife calls saying she can’t manage the catheter and she is in tears because his
pain is 6/10 and he is more short of breath. “You promised me it wouldn’t be like this!” She
wants to take him to the emergency room for IV furosemide and a pulmonologist visit.
The best approach is to:
a) Arrange for a hospice nurse to meet the patient in the emergency room to disenroll him
from hospice
b) Set up in home continuous care to manage his catheter
c) Immediately prepare a respite stay
d) Admit the patient to a qualified skilled nursing facility for General Inpatient stay for
pain control
Discussion: (d) is best
a) The family needs are symptom management and training about catheter care. Both are
best provided in a controlled environment, not in the emergency room. This case
represents a failure in transitions of care, and disenrollment from hospice will only
lead to one more transition
b) Continuous care could be a reasonable choice if the issue were only the catheter. The
requirement for skilled care is the same as for gip and it is a good option for a patient
who really does not want to be in a facility but in this case the patient’s intensive
symptom need may need 24 hour nursing care and continuous care is not entirely
provided by nursing level care
c) Respite is for the benefit of the family and is generally a planned event, it is also
appropriate to use in cases of caregiver breakdown when there is not a skilled care
need requirement for the patient
d) In this case, the patient has severe dyspnea and pain and is requiring both catheter
drainage of an effusion and rapid titration of opioids to control his symptoms in a
manner that his care givers are not capable of providing currently. GIP is to provide
skilled care for the patient that cannot be provided in the home. Documentation for
GIP based on pain must include:
• Frequent evaluation
• Frequent medication adjustment
• Aggressive interventions to control the pain
References:
• http://www.aahpm.org/apps/blog/?p=1133

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George is admitted to GIP status in a skilled nursing facility with 24 hour RN availability. He
has had a marked decline since he was seen 2 days ago. The hospice nurse is asking whether
the plan should be to send him back home after the symptoms are controlled. The social worker
doesn’t want to bring that up because it might upset the wife and because it might give George
false hope. The entire Interprofessional group thinks he might die in the next week or two
You reply that:
a) Since he’ll likely die in 7-10 days, it will be fine to continue on General Inpatient
Status for imminently dying criteria so discharge discussions don’t need to be raised
b) Due to the wife’s burden of caregiver distress, the patient will be maintained on
General Inpatient Status for caregiver breakdown so discharge discussions don’t need
to be raised
c) Once admitted to General Inpatient Status, one of the goals must be transition to a
lower level of care
d) Since General Inpatient status should only last 7 days, discharge discussions will start
after the first 3 days to let the family have some relief.
a) There is no GIP status for ‘imminently dying’. There must be some symptom that
requires management
b) CMS has clarified that GIP should only be used based on the patient condition and
should not be used due to caregiver “breakdown”. (CMS Quarterly Provider Update
April 2007,
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/quarterlyproviderupdates/downloads/cms1539p.pdf)
c) Direct wording from quarterly. The goal may not be achievable, but needs to be a part
of planning and discussion.
d) There is no specified time limit to GIP status, although some fiscal intermediaries do
appear to increase audits after the first 7 days
References:
• http://digital.ipcprintservices.com/publication/?i=93241 (login required using aahpm
membership id)
• Medicare Benefit Policy Manual Chapter 9 - Coverage of Hospice Services Under
Hospital Insurance 40.1.5 - Short-Term Inpatient Care pp15 and 16/32
http://www.cms.gov/manuals/downloads/bp102c09.pdf

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Mrs. Tagliatelli is a 76 year old Italian immigrant and widow who has not missed a day of mass
in her adult life until this past month. She comes to see her primary care physician in clinic
because she missed mass, asking whether she should get hospice. She has heart failure, mild
hypertension, and sleep apnea.
She has noted that over the last month, her legs are more swollen and she is having increased
difficulty walking to church and the grocery store. She still keeps an impeccable home,
managing her housecleaning herself, but now is sitting down for a longer period of time after
carrying the vacuum up and downstairs. She is also able to maintain her daily rituals of reading
the NYTimes Health and Travel sections, cooking three small meals each day.
She no longer wishes to return to hospital, and has not been admitted since her myocardial
infarction 5 years ago, which preceded her diagnosis of heart failure. At that time, she had a
successful resuscitation and wishes to remain full code.
She uses CPAP at night for her sleep apnea, but otherwise does not require oxygen. She also
tells you that because she lives alone, she keeps a gun in her home for self-protection.
Her home medications include: Furosemide 10mg BID, Atenolol 50mg daily, lisinopril 10mg
daily, simvastatin 5mg daily, aspirin 81mg daily. She also has nitroglycerine 0.4mg sl prn
(which she has not used since her MI), and acetaminophen 325mg which she takes “once in a
while for an ache.”
Why would this patient not be admitted to hospice?
a) She is full code.
b) She lives alone.
c) She has greater than a six-month prognosis.
d) She is not homebound.
e) She has firearms in the home.
Discussion: answer is (c)
Take home points:
• Prognostication for heart failure is one of the more scrutinized and difficult under the
hospice guidelines. Her current NYHA class is 2, due to increased symptoms with
activity. In addition, her medical management can still be adjusted, likely with good
response. General guidelines for heart failure include hospitalization within the last 6-
months to a year, dyspnea with minimal exertion or at rest. Since she still is
independent in all ADLs including thorough house-cleaning, without becoming
dyspneic, it is not reasonable to say she has a <6mo prognosis.
• While to qualify for visiting nursing services, a patient must be homebound, no such
requirement exists for hospice.
• Additionally, patients may choose to be full code on hospice. Medicare does not
require a 24 hour caregiver to be present in order for the patient to receive hospice
services. While firearms are concerning for patient and staff safety, they do not
prevent hospice admission. Some hospices have adopted a stance to request patients to
have their firearms in locked safe or gun closet.
References: See Q21

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A couple of years and hospitalizations later, Mrs. Tagliatelli was admitted to hospice. At the
time of admission to hospice, she was breathless with minimal exertion. Neighbors and
members of her church visited her often offering her food, company, and rides to church. She
required oxygen all the time. Even with this, at the time of admission to hospice, she
experienced constant dyspnea.
Her cardiac medications were continued, morphine ER and IR were added for her dyspnea.
After six months on hospice, she is now well palliated, especially since she has been able to
have her medications as prescribed and no longer spaces out her medications in order to make
them last. However, she continues to require help from her friends and neighbors, and oxygen
with minimal activity. She fell once and required a trip to the emergency department.
You go to see her for recertification visit.
What do you write in your recertification note?
a) She meets criteria for recertification because her prognosis remains 6-months or less.
b) She does not meet criteria for recertification because she has not shown decline in her
condition.
c) She does not meet criteria for recertification because her last hospitalization was
unrelated to her hospice diagnosis
Discussion (a) is the correct answer
Take home points:
• Some intermediaries recommend the demonstration of decline in clinical condition for
a patient to be recertified, and while this is helpful is the recertification process, it is
not a CMS requirement. According to Medicare guidelines, the only requirement for
hospice is that a patient’s prognosis is 6 months or less.
• Documentation of a hospitalization can also help qualify a patient for hospice. The
cause of hospitalization does not need to be related to the hospice diagnosis.
References:
• https://www.cms.gov/Hospice/Downloads/HospiceFace-to-FaceGuidance.pdf
• http://www.geripal.org/2011/02/hospice-face-to-face-ftf-encounters-for.html

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Notes Question HPM22a, 22b
Page 27 of 48
A young man was recently in a motor vehicle collision where he suffered a massive head injury
and multi-trauma. He was resuscitated and survived in the ICU with a ventilator, continuous
hemodialysis, and multiple pressors for the past 2 days, but now is declining, and he is not
expected to survive this hospitalization. You receive a palliative care consult to help with the
ventilator withdrawal. You head down to the unit and the nurse comes to you and says “I am
not sure you should talk with the family – the organ procurement agency has just visited to
discuss organ donation after cardiac death, and the family want to donate his organs – his liver
and lungs may be transplantable.”
What is the best next step?
a) Thank the nurse, and back out of the consult
b) Talk with the family about the patient, their grief, and counsel them about comfort care
after cessation of life-support.
c) Ask the attending physician of record who is going to manage the patient’s comfort
care after cessation of life-support.
d) Work with the family to help them realize this will only prolong the patient’s
suffering.
Part B
A day later, the patient’s HCV test comes back positive and he is no longer a viable DCD
candidate. The ICU attending asks you to ‘take care of the treatment withdrawal’. The family is
very disappointed, and indicates their only goal at this point is for a comfortable death, without
‘prolonging this any longer.’ His only symptom-directed med is intermittent fentanyl bolus
(700mcg the last 24h). He is unresponsive on the vent, without any spontaneous movement.
The best next step is to:
a) Recommend rapidly stopping all life support including CRRT, ventilator, and pressors
over the next hour or so, and starting a fentanyl and lorazepam infusion to keep the
patient sedated.
b) Recommend staggering withdrawal of life support over a couple days including
stopping CRRT and pressors now in the hopes that the patient dies on the ventilator.
c) Discuss with the family different approaches to life-support withdrawal.
d) Switch the patient from fentanyl to morphine boluses as you extubate him, as
morphine is more effective for air-hunger.
Discussion: Correct answers are Part A(b) Part B (c)
Part A Take Home Points
• Donation after cardiac death is an important, and growing, public good, as it expands
the pool of potential organ donors: it saves lives. Palliative consultants should support
DCD programs, and palliative consultation alongside DCD is possible and in some
institutions the standard of care. For most families, the real concern is not in
prolonging suffering but the disappointment which can occur if the dying patient
becomes ineligible to donate organs. DCD practices and the role palliative care
consultants can play in them are spelled out nicely in this Fast Fact:
http://www.eperc.mcw.edu/EPERC/FastFactsIndex/ff_242/htm.
• While C is an important question as the palliative consultant may be asked to manage
the patient’s comfort care after extubation in the window during which if the patient
dies he will be able to donate his organs, that is a secondary concern right now to
doing the good work of palliative care – meeting a patient and family and helping to
meet their emotional and informational needs.
Part B Take Home Points
• A study in 2007 showed that family satisfaction was greater with a stuttered/prolonged

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approach to discontinuing therapies if the patient had been in the ICU for more than 4
days, but when the patient was in for 3days or less, a stuttered approach lowered
satisfaction. Even with those clearly stated goals, careful discussions with the family
are best about the options for cessation of life-prolonging treatments as families may
have anticipated concerns about stopping certain treatments (fluids, tube feeds in
particular). Given the modest evidence of improved satisfaction with staggered
withdrawal, dicussing with family is the best policy.
• Answer a) may end up being the best approach; however simply starting a fentanyl
infusion is secondary to providing/ensuring adequate rapid, boluses of symptom
medications are available around the time of extubation.
• No opioid has been established as being superior over another for air hunger. In
addition, the patient is in renal failure and morphine may accumulate whereas fentanyl
will not; on the other hand, he is likely to live just a short amount of time making that
a moot point generally. Morphine is more economical and familiar; on the other hand
one knows how much fentanyl this patient has needed as a starting point. On top of
this, this comatose patient probably cannot experience air hunger; the indication for
opioids really is to palliate labored respirations. All this is to say d is both unnecessary
but not contraindicated, but not for the reason stated.
References:
• http://www.pallimed.org/2008/10/stuttered-treatment-withdrawal-in-icu.html
• http://cases.pallimed.org/2009/01/coordination-of-care-for-people-at-end.html
• http://www.pallimed.org/2006/03/terminal-patients-in-icu-and-organ.html
• Gerstel E, Engelberg RA, Koepsell T, & Curtis JR. (2008) Duration of withdrawal of
life support in the intensive care unit and association with family satisfaction.
American journal of respiratory and critical care medicine, 178(8), 798-804. PMID:
18703787
• Revelly JP, Imperatori L, Maravic P, Schaller MD, & Chioléro R. (2006) Are
terminally ill patients dying in the ICU suitable for non-heart beating organ donation?.
Intensive care medicine, 32(5), 708-12. PMID: 16534569
• Lynn, J. (2001-2-21) Serving Patients Who May Die Soon and Their Families: The
Role of Hospice and Other Services. JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical
Association, 285(7), 925-932. DOI: 10.1001/jama.285.7.925
• Vent withdrawal FF: http://www.eperc.mcw.edu/EPERC/FastFactsIndex/ff_033.htm
• DCD FF: http://www.eperc.mcw.edu/EPERC/FastFactsIndex/ff_242/htm
• Anoxic Brain Injury FF:
http://www.eperc.mcw.edu/EPERC/FastFactsIndex/ff_234.htm

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A 47 year old woman with a severe, idiopathic, dilated cardiomyopathy is receiving hospice
care at home. She is ineligible for cardiac transplantation or a ventricular assist device. She has
mild resting dyspnea but becomes severely dyspneic after just a few steps of ambulation. Her
nurse measures her resting and ambulatory oxygen saturation while breathing ambient air: it is
96 and 92%, respectively. The patient is taking digoxin, bumetamide, hydralazine, isosorbide
dinitrate, albuterol MDI, warfarin, senna, and clonzepam. The patient requests home oxygen
therapy to help alleviate her breathlessness.
The best response is:
a) Order home oxygen therapy for the patient
b) Initiate lorazepam prn for dyspnea
c) Recommend use of a hand-held fan and prn morphine for her dyspnea
d) Request that the patient see her cardiologist for further optimization of her heart failure
meds
a) Home oxygen therapy is not recommended as first-line treatment for dyspnea in non-hypoxic
patients. It has been shown to be equivalent to ‘sham’ delivery of ambient air
via nasal cannula. While there is a role for it even in normoxic patients (it ‘works’, just
no better than ambient air), it is not first-line.
b) She is already on a benzodiazepine, and benzodiazepines are generally considered 2nd
line agents to opioids
c) Hand-held fans have been shown to improve dyspnea, and there is professional
consensus that opioids are first-line agents for the symptomatic relief of refractory
dyspnea that is not responding to treatment of the underlying cause.
d) While there is a role for this strategy, the patient is already on multiple heart failure
medications which clearly are not sufficient to palliative her dyspnea, and so c is the
best answer.
References:
• http://www.pallimed.org/2010/09/rct-of-oxygen-vs-room-air-delivered-by.html
• Viola R et al. The management of dyspnea in cancer patients: a systematic review.
Supp Care Cancer. 2008; 16:329-337.
• Galbraith S. Does the use of a handheld fan improve chronic dyspnea? A randomized,
controlled, crossover trial. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2010 May;39(5):831-8.

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Question HPM24
Mr. L is a 52-year-old homeless man. One week ago, he was admitted to the ICU with respiratory distress
and was intubated. A chest CT scan revealed a large necrotic mass filling the right hemithorax, obliterating
the right and narrowing the left mainstem bronchi. Sputum cytology confirmed a diagnosis of non-small
cell lung cancer. Oncology states that there is no role for chemotherapy or radiation unless he could be
weaned off the ventilator, which was considered doubtful in the setting of his airway obstruction.
Mr. L is unable to participate in medical decision-making. The patient’s mother, who is the authorized
decision maker, meets with the palliative care team to discuss prognosis and treatment options, including
withdrawal of life-sustaining treatments. The mother is adamant that all life-sustaining measures be
continued despite a previous discussion that Mr. L’s disease severity will prevent him from ever leaving the
ICU, let alone the hospital. Mr. L’s mother expresses hope that, despite the physician’s prediction, a miracle
will occur that will allow her son to leave the hospital.
The next best step is to:
a) Schedule another family meeting to reiterate the prognosis of his current condition and the
likelihood of recovery
b) Involve an ethics committee as the mother’s belief in a miracle is far from a societal norm
c) Tell the mother that hope for a miracle is unreasonable, but that she could still hope that her son is
comfortable
d) Ask the mother about her spiritual beliefs and how it influences her decision
a) Although it would be reasonable to again discuss prognosis, the mother’s hope in a miracle can be
considered at least an acknowledgement that she heard the original prognostic information.
Furthermore, spiritual beliefs, including that of a belief in miracles, may trump a physician’s
opinion of prognosis despite adequate communication of prognosis.(1) One study of surrogates of
incapacitated critically ill patients at high risk for death found that only 2% based their views of
prognosis solely on the physician’s prognostic estimate.(2) Rather, these surrogates used a
combination of sources including knowledge of the patient’s intrinsic qualities and will to live;
their observations of the patient; their own observations and beliefs in the power of their support
and presence, and optimism, intuition, and faith (For 20% of surrogates, a faith in God overrode
any other source of prognostic information).(1) While scheduling another meeting may be
appropriate, the ‘problem’ in this scenario is not lack of DATA, and D is the better answer.
b) According to a 2007 survey performed by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, the majority
of Americans believe in miracles with little difference based on the respondent’s age. In another
survey, most public respondents (57.4%) believed that divine intervention from God could save a
person even if the physician told them ‘‘futility had been reached.’’(3) Significant differences in
belief in miracles were noted in this study between health care professionals and the general public.
The majority of public respondents (61.3%) believed that a person in a persistent vegetative state
could be saved by a miracle, although only a minority of trauma professionals had the same belief.
c) Without knowing more about the mothers spiritual convictions and having a good understanding of
what a “miracles means for her”, and reframing of her hope would be premature and could be
perceived as condescending.(1)
d) Most individuals would like physicians to ask about their spiritual/religious beliefs.(1) In addition,
patients who report that their spiritual needs are supported by the medical team are more likely to
receive hospice care than those who report their spiritual needs were unsupported.(2)
References:
• http://www.geripal.org/2011/06/lessons-i-learned-by-examining-miracles.html
• Widera EW, Rosenfeld KE, Fromme EK, Sulmasy DP, Arnold RM. Approaching patients and
family members who hope for a miracle. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2011 Jul; 42(1):119-25.
• Boyd EA, Lo B, Evans LR, et al. ‘‘It’s not just what the doctor tells me:’’ factors that influence
surrogate decision-makers’ perceptions of prognosis. Crit Care Med 2010;38:1270e1275.
• Jacobs LM, Burns K, Bennett Jacobs B. Trauma death: views of the public and trauma
professionals on death and dying from injuries. Arch Surg 2008; 143:730e735.
• Balboni TA, Paulk ME, Balboni MJ, et al. Provision of spiritual care to patients with advanced
cancer: associations with medical care and quality of life near death. J Clin Oncol
2010;28:445e452

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Omar Johnson is a 64 year old man with cryptogenic cirrhosis in multiorgan system failure in
your hospital’s ICU. He is ventilated, unresponsive, and on vasopressors. You and the ICU
team agree his chances for surviving this hospitalization are minimal. He has no advance
directive.
You participate in an ICU family care conference with his wife (his legal decision maker based
on state law), 2 sisters, and 3 adult sons. They are told he is dying with minimal chance of
survival.
His sons say they do not think the patient would want to die ‘like this – on machines,’ and
describe several conversations with the patient to support that preference. His wife seems to
agree with that, but also says, “I can’t give up on him. I can’t have that on my shoulders – I’ll
always wonder if I did the right thing.”
The best, next response would be:
a) Request ethics consultation
b) Along with the ICU physician, suggest to the family that you make the decision on
behalf of the patient yourselves, to transition the patient to comfort-care.
c) Ask the family to focus on what the patient himself would prefer in these
circumstances.
d) Express to the family acknowledgment of the emotional difficulty of this, and
recommend another meeting the next day.
a) Be wary of it as a board question answer. Ethics consultations have been shown to
help with conflict although it wouldn’t be the “best, next response” in this situation.
b) Making recommendations for what you believe to be the best plan of care is critically
important in these situations. Surrogate decision making is uniquely traumatizing to
family members (beyond routine bereavement); when a patient’s preferences are clear,
physicians should clearly articulate an appropriate plan of care and not force family
members into feeling they are responsible for a patient’s death.
c) Generally a good idea – but they already have acknowledged those ‘facts’; the issue
here is more comfort with decision-making roles and guilt.
d) A 2nd best option to 2
References:
• http://www.pallimed.org/2011/03/trauma-of-surrogacy.html

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Mrs. Hassad is a 83 year old retired professor from who is being evaluated for a hospice admission. Her 4 sons live in
adjacent homes with their families. She has metastatic breast cancer with bone, liver, and brain. Because of her
underlying renal failure and moderate heart failure, she will not be receiving chemotherapy and her physician had
arranged home hospice services now that she has completed palliative radiation. She is alert, oriented.
The hospice intake nurse calls you because the family and patient state that she does not want to know anything about
his diagnosis or severity of illness. Mrs. Hassad’s son tells the nurse not to speak with the patient about her prognosis,
her illness, or about code status. Instead, she asks that you speak with her son about these matters. You are at the home
with the nurse because she does not know how to get her to sign the paperwork to enroll in hospice.
What do you do after confirming with Mrs. Hassad that she does not want to be involved in signing papers or knowing
details of his medical condition, and would rather that you speak with her son?
a) Explain to the son that you must gain consent from Mrs. Hassad in order to enroll her in hospice in respect of
Page 32 of 48
the principle of autonomy.
b) Invoke the health care proxy and have Mrs. Hassad’s son sign the paperwork to enroll in hospice.
c) Have the son sign the paperwork for hospice since Mrs. Hassad made the autonomous decision to defer
decisions to her son.
d) Refuse hospice enrollment for the patient since she is unwilling to accept to address her diagnosis and
prognosis.
e) Clarify to the patient that it is her responsibility to make the decision, based on autonomy, and to avoid trauma
of surrogacy in her son.
f) Teach the nurse that she should not have questioned the son’s request because that was disrespectful to their
culture.
Discussion: (c) is the correct answer
• Patients can make the autonomous decision to know or not to know information. As outlined in the SPIKES
protocol for giving bad news, the Invitation is to ask how much a patient wishes to know. Should patients
choose not to be informed they should know that then consents to procedures and medical care must also be
deferred to the person they request disclosure to.
• Healthcare proxy is invoked only when patients lack the capacity to make medical decisions. Here Mrs.
Hassad has capacity but chooses to have her son make decisions on her behalf.
• Hospice enrollment does not require a patient’s acceptance of his or her disease and prognosis.
• Research shows that most people, regardless of culture or country of origin, wish to have medical information
disclosed to them. However, as age and illness advance, patients are more inclined to request less disclosure.
One should not assume desire or lack of desire to be involved in medical decision-making and disclosure of
information based on culture, religion or country of origin.
References:
§ http://www.pallimed.org/2011/03/trauma-of-surrogacy.html
§ Oncotalk. (n.d.). Giving Bad News., http://depts.washington.edu/oncotalk/learn/modules/Modules_02.pdf
§ Wendler, D., & Rid, A. (2011). Systematic review: the effect on surrogates of making treatment decisions for others.
Annals of internal medicine, 154(5), 336-46. Retrieved from http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/abstract/154/5/336
§ Elkin, E. B., Kim, S. H. M., Casper, E. S., Kissane, D. W., & Schrag, D. (2007). Desire for information and
involvement in treatment decisions: elderly cancer patients’ preferences and their physicians' perceptions. Journal of
clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 25(33), 5275-80.
§ Baile, W. F. (2000). SPIKES--A Six-Step Protocol for Delivering Bad News: Application to the Patient with Cancer.
The Oncologist, 5(4), 302-311.
§ Elkin, E. B., Kim, S. H. M., Casper, E. S., Kissane, D. W., & Schrag, D. (2007). Desire for information and
involvement in treatment decisions: elderly cancer patients’ preferences and their physicians' perceptions. Journal of
clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, 25(33), 5275-80.
§ Asghari, F., Mirzazadeh, A., & Fotouhi, A. (2008). Patients’ preferences for receiving clinical information and
participating in decision-making in Iran. Journal of medical ethics, 34(5), 348-52.
§ Bushnaq, M. (2008). Palliative care in Jordan: culturally sensitive practice. Journal of palliative medicine, 11(10),
1292-3. Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. 140 Huguenot Street, 3rd Floor New Rochelle, NY 10801-5215 USA.

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Dr. L is a 44 year old palliative care fellow about to complete two months of a busy inpatient
consult rotation. You notice that over the last week she has become detached and disengaged
when talking with patients and their family members. The fellow acknowledges feeling tired
and drained most of the time, as well as having difficulty falling asleep. She also confides in
you a personal sense of failure and self-doubt.
The most appropriate interventions at this time is
a) Recommend she see her primary doctor to discuss SSRI therapy
b) Recommend she try bright light therapy
c) Refer for a transient mirrectomy
d) Recommend an educational program in mindful communication
a) The fellow does not meet DSM-IV criteria for depression, although she does have
some suggestive symptoms. Further exploration would be a correct answer, but
starting an SSRI would not.
b) There is no evidence that bright light therapy is helpful for symptoms of burnout.
There is some evidence of a small benefit for depressive symptoms though.
c) Transient mirrectomy is a fictional treatment described by Brad Stuart in an April fools
day GeriPal post. It reportedly is a non-invasive method of numbing brain centers that
may induce clinicians to identify with pain and suffering to a disabling degree. Sure
sounds nice.
d) The fellow has symptoms suggestive of burnout. Burnout encompasses 3 domains:
feelings of emotional exhaustion, cynicism or depersonalization, and a low sense of
personal accomplishment. The criterion standard for measuring burnout is the
Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). There is scant high-quality evidence on the
approach to treating burnout, however one study published in JAMA suggested that
participation in a mindful communication program was associated with improvements
in well-being, including burnout.
References:
• http://www.geripal.org/2011/04/doctor-develops-cure-for-burnout.html
• Krasner MS et al. Among Primary Care Physicians Communication With Burnout,
Empathy, and Attitudes Association of an Educational Program in Mindful. JAMA.
2009;302(12):1284-1293
• http://blog.vcu.edu/dpgray/JAMA%20self-care%20end%20of%20life.pdf
• Kearney MK et al. Self-care of Physicians Care for Patients at the End of Life: “Being
Connected...A Key to My Survival.” JAMA. 2009;301(11):1155-1164

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Your palliative care clinic team meets Nancy Bush a 46 year-old with newly diagnosed triple-negative
metastatic breast cancer. She has 7 and 11 year old children. The children know
Nancy has been ‘to the doctor’ a lot lately but nothing else.
She is thinking about talking with the children and letting them know her diagnosis, but her
mother thinks that telling them now will be too hard on them.
You advise:
a) It is best to wait until Nancy’s disease is obvious to the children so their interactions
with their mother will not change.
b) Telling the children now will make them too anxious.
c) She should tell the older child, but the younger child is not at an appropriate
development age that he will benefit from hearing his mother has cancer.
d) Telling the children of the disease may make them less anxious
For the purposes of the boards – your default position should be one of truthful disclosure to
children of all ages.
The highest quality longitudinal study of bereaved children showed:
• The early loss of a parent was associated with poverty, - contributing factors may
include the loss of income, as well as the burden of medical expenses
• the increase in separation anxiety symptoms begins prior to death: this speaks to the
need for preventive interventions when a family death is impending
• Several studies have shown a higher incidence of substance abuse in bereaved
children, up to at least 21 months after the death
• Bereavement pattern associated with early loss of a parent was associated with
poverty, substance abuse problems, and greater functional impairments.
References
• http://cases.pallimed.org/2009/05/what-do-i-say-to-my-kids.html
• Rosenheim, E., Reicher, R. (1985). Informing children about a parent’s terminal
illness. J Child Psychol Psychiatry Allied Disc. 26:995-998.
• Siegel, K., Raveis, V., Karus, D. (1996). Pattern of communication with children when
a parent has cancer. In L. Baider & L. Cooper (Eds) Cancer and the family, pp 109-
128. John Wiley and Sons: New York.
• Psychiatric symptoms in bereaved versus nonbereaved youth and young adults: a
longitudinal epidemiological study. Kaplow JB. Saunders J. Angold A. Costello EJ.
• Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. 49(11):1145-54,
2010 Nov.
• Sanchez L, Fristad M, Weller RA, Weller EB, Moye J. Anxiety inacutely bereaved
prepubertal children. Ann Clin Psychiatry.1994;6:39-43.
• Swadi H. A longitudinal perspective on adolescent substance abuse. Eur Child Adolesc
Psychiatry. 1992;1:156-170.

From
Blogs
to
Boards:
AAHPM
2012
Pre-‐Course
from
the
contributors
of
Pallimed
&
Geripal
Page 35 of 48
You receive a call from the hospice nurse about a new hospice patient, Mrs. Gardner, who had a large
ischemic MCA stroke 4 months ago. She has not been able to eat, is unable to turn herself, and has
developed a large stage IV decubiti on her low back.
The wound measures 10cm x 8cm and 1.2cm deep. It has some limited undermining and no tunneling. At
the wound bed, the spine is visible. The bed of the wound reveals malodorous, necrotic purplish muscle and
tissue with extensive serosanguinous drainage. The surrounding skin is intact.
Mr Gardner covers her wound with a cream but notes ‘It just keeps getting deeper.” The patient is turned q2
hours. The goal of care is to keep her comfortable and at home – a promise he made to her.
The hospice nurse asks you for orders to help manage the wound. She will order an air-mattress.
After washing the bed of the wound with normal saline, applying a thin layer of metronidazole gel to the
base of the wound, what do you recommend for a wound care dressing?
a) Pack wound with wet-to-dry dressing and cover with ABD pad every 3 days.
b) Pack wound with calcium alginate wafer and rope, cover with ABD pad every 3 days.
c) Pack wound with hydrocolloid dressing and cover with ABD pad every 3 days
Discussion: (b) is correct – non-occlusive, good for wet wounds
References:
• May
macerate
surrounding
skin
Foam
Dressing
++++
• Can
be
used
in
infected
wounds
Alginate
dressing
+++
Hydrogel
++
• occlusive,
should
not
use
with
venous/vascular
compromise
Hydrocolloid
+
Transparent
Lilm
• Can
cause
debridement
of
healing
tissue
Gauze
(wet
to
dry)
Non-‐
adherent
dressings
+
=
degree
of
absorption
• Ferris, F., & Pirrello, R. (n.d.). Palliative Wound Care. Retrieved February 25, 2012, from
google.docs presentation
• McDonald, A., & Lesage, P. (2006). Palliative management of pressure ulcers and malignant
wounds in patients with advanced illness. Journal of palliative medicine, 9(2), 285-95. Mary Ann
Liebert, Inc. 2 Madison Avenue Larchmont, NY 10538 USA.

From
Blogs
to
Boards:
AAHPM
2012
Pre-‐Course
from
the
contributors
of
Pallimed
&
Geripal
Page 36 of 48
A 45 year old man with HIV-AIDS comes to your clinic for follow-up for HIV-related
neuropathy pain. He has long declined any antiretroviral therapy, and has consistently stated he
wants supportive-only care focused on maintaining his quality of life. He has a CD4 count of 90
cells/mm3. 1 year ago it was 100. He reports worsening pain control which he relates to
inability to swallow his morphine ER tabs (100 mg tid) much of the time. He reports mid-throat
pain, and frequently chokes on the pills, ‘gags’ them back up. Examination reveals a thin
man. Mouth demonstrates scattered white plaques on the palate which reveal a red base when
scraped away.
Best next step is to:
a) Prescribe Nystatin ‘swish & swallow’; change morphine to 30mg elixir q4h scheduled.
b) Prescribe fluconazole; change MorphineER pills to to MorphineER ‘granules’ in
pudding (such as ‘Kadian’ or ‘Avinza’ morphine formulations).
c) Prescribe fluconazole, change his morphine to methadone elixir, and recommend
hospice care given his goals of care and prognosis.
d) Prescribe Nystatin ‘swish & swallow’; change his morphineER to a fentanyl patch.
This man has HIV, AIDS, thrush, and based on the history of dysphagia and odynophagia,
esophageal candidiasis as well. Due to this, systemic antifungal agents are indicated such as
fluconazole. Topical agents are ineffective for esophageal candidiasis; for thrush alone they are
less effective but still used as first-line agents.
All of the strategies to manage his pain while he is having pill dysphagia are within the realm of
reason – use of scheduled immediate release morphine, Morphine ER granules which can be
given in pudding or down a G-tube (‘Kadian’ or ‘Avinza’), or transdermal fentanyl. Methadone
elixir or crushed pills is a possibility, however it’s a more complicated rotation, and interacts
with fluconazole, and probably not as elegant as the other solutions.
Hospice care is not appropriate for the patient based on prognosis. A CD4 count of 90 which is
slowly declining, and no other major life-limiting complication of HIV, indicate his expected
prognosis is well over 6 months. Indeed, if he chose to start antiretrovirals it could be decades.
Hospice eligibility guidelines, while not very evidence-based, suggest a CD4 count
<25cells/mm3 or a persistent viral load >100,000 copies/ml, as well as a serious HIV related
comorbidity such as CNS lympthoma, MAC bacteremia untreated or unresponsive to treatment,
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, systemic lympthoma, visceral Kaposi’s sarcoma,
renal failure, cryptosporidium infection, or toxoplasmosis unresponsive to therapy.
References:
• http://www.pallimed.org/2006/01/prognosis-in-end-stage-hiv-aids.html

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