Journal of pain and symptom management
-
J Pain Symptom Manage · Apr 2012
Case ReportsPreemptive use of palliative sedation and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Patients in the advanced stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis often are faced with the dilemma of whether to use or continue to use mechanical ventilation. Patients who elect to terminate ventilatory support may be subject to significant and even extreme respiratory symptoms. ⋯ However, the preemptive use of palliative sedation is sometimes appropriate. The preemptive use of palliative sedation is examined through a case-based analysis of a patient with advanced amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.