Hypodermoclysis for control of dehydration in terminal-stage cancer. The effect of intravenous fluid infusion on blood and urine parameters of hydration and on state of consciousness in terminal cancer patients. Effects of parenteral hydration in terminally ill cancer patients: a preliminary study. Association between hydration volume and symptoms in terminally ill cancer patients with abdominal malignancies.
Many of those involved in palliative care have justifiable objections to the introduction of intravenous hydration in patients with dehydration-associated symptoms and advanced cancer. Researchers from the University of Buenos Aires carried out a randomized, comparative and prospective trail to determine the usefulness of hypodermoclysis in the control of thirst, chronic nausea and delirium. Forty-two patients were randomized into two groups. Both groups received drugs subcutaneously (haloperidol 2.5 mg every 4 hours to control delirium and/or metoclopramide 10 mg every 4 hours to control chronic nausea). The study group also received 1000 ml 5% dextrose in water infusion plus 140 milliequivalent per litre (mEq/L) sodium chloride, at a rate of 42 ml/hour per day. Both groups showed significant and equal improvements in relief of thirst and chronic nausea at 24 hours. After 48 hours, this improvement was maintained in the group that received hydration, but only for the relief of chronic nausea. Delirium did not improve significantly in either group during the 48-hour trial period. Current data suggest that decisions on rehydration of patients with terminal-phase cancer should be based more on the patient's comfort than on providing optimal hydration. This prospective study was undertaken to assess the state of hydration in terminal cancer patients with and without intravenous fluids during the last 48 hours of their lives and to correlate various measures of hydration with their state of consciousness. We examined indicators of hydration in the plasma and urine of 68 consecutive patients for whom data were available at 48 hours or less before death. Thirteen of the patients were being treated with intravenous (IV) fluids. Nearly all of the patients studied were found to be dehydrated, as determined by laboratory measurements. State of consciousness correlated inversely with serum sodium (p < 0.001) and urine osmolality (p < 0.02). Patients receiving intravenous fluids were not better hydrated than those without IV therapy, nor was their state of consciousness improved. In light of these findings, which suggest there is no clinical benefit from intravenous infusions, decisions regarding intravenous fluid therapy during the last hours of life should be guided by the preferences of the dying patient and his family. Most patients with cancer develop decreased oral intake and dehydration before death. This study aimed to determine the effect of parenteral hydration on overall symptom control in terminally ill cancer patients with dehydration.
                Patients with clinical evidence of mild to moderate dehydration and a liquid oral intake less than 1,000 mL/day were randomly assigned to receive either parenteral hydration with 1,000 mL (treatment group) or placebo with 100 mL normal saline administered over 4 hours for 2 days. Patients were evaluated for target symptoms (hallucinations, myoclonus, fatigue, and sedation), global well-being, and overall benefit.
                Twenty-seven patients randomly assigned to the treatment group had improvement in 53 (73%) of their 73 target symptoms versus 33 (49%) of 67 target symptoms in the placebo group (n=22; P = .005). Fifteen (83%) of 18 and 15 (83%) of 18 patients had improved myoclonus and sedation after hydration versus eight (47%) of 17 and five (33%) of 15 patients after placebo (P = .035 and P = .005, respectively). There were no significant differences of improvement in hallucinations or fatigue between groups. When blinded to treatment, patients (17 [63%] of 77) and investigators (20 [74%] of 27) perceived hydration as effective compared with placebo in nine (41%) of 22 patients (P = .78) and 12 (54%) of 22 investigators (P = .15), respectively. The intensity of pain and swelling at the injection site were not significantly different between groups.
                Parenteral hydration decreased symptoms of dehydration in terminally ill cancer patients who had decreased fluid intake. Hydration was well tolerated, and a placebo effect was observed. Studies with larger samples and a longer follow-up period are justified. To explore the association between hydration volume and symptoms during the last 3 weeks of life in terminally ill cancer patients.
                This was a multicenter, prospective, observational study of 226 consecutive terminally ill patients with abdominal malignancies. Primary responsible physicians and nurses evaluated the severity of membranous dehydration (dehydration score calculated from three physical findings), peripheral edema (edema score calculated from seven physical findings), ascites and pleural effusion (rated as physically undetectable to symptomatic), bronchial secretion, hyperactive delirium (Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale), communication capacity (Communication Capacity Scale), agitation (Agitation Distress Scale), myoclonus and bedsores.
                Patients were classified into two groups: the hydration group (n=59) who received 1 l or more of artificial hydration per day, 1 and 3 weeks before death, and the non-hydration group (n=167). The percentage of patients with deterioration in dehydration score in the final 3 weeks was significantly higher in the non-hydration group than the hydration group (35% versus 14%; P=0.002), while the percentages of patients whose symptom scores for edema, ascites and pleural effusion increased were significantly higher in the hydration group than the non-hydration group (44% versus 29%, P=0.039; 29% versus 8.4%, P <0.001; 15% versus 5.4%, P=0.016; respectively). After controlling for multiple covariates and treatment settings, the association between hydration group and dehydration/ascites score was statistically significant. Subgroup analysis of patients with peritoneal metastases identified statistically significant interaction between hydration group and dehydration/pleural effusion score. There were no significant differences in the degree of bronchial secretion, hyperactive delirium, communication capacity, agitation, myoclonus or bedsores.
                Artificial hydration therapy could alleviate membranous dehydration signs, but could worsen peripheral edema, ascites and pleural effusions. It is suggested that the potential benefits of artificial hydration therapy should be balanced with the risk of worsening fluid retention symptoms. Further clinical studies are strongly needed to identify the effects of artificial hydration therapy on overall patient well-being, and an individualized treatment and close monitoring of dehydration and fluid retention symptoms is strongly recommended.
Since the last version of this review no new studies were found. However there is one ongoing, high quality study that has not reached full recruitment. There are insufficient good quality studies to make any recommendations for practice with regard to the use of medically assisted hydration in palliative care patients.