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Assessing the role of hydration in delirium at the end of life.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  21532351     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Data-Review    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Delirium is the most frequent neuropsychiatric disorder that affects the advanced cancer population who are receiving palliative care. There is limited evidence and much debate about the role of hydration in delirium management at the end of life. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on delirium management with regards to pharmacological management and hydration.
RECENT FINDINGS: Pharmacological management is the first line of treatment for delirium, whereby antipsychotics are the medication of choice. However, they have not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for delirium management as there is insufficient evidence supporting their use. Hydration is a believed to be a key component of delirium reversibility; yet there are conflicting results on its efficacy as an intervention for delirium management. As there are few studies of good methodological quality on the topic and large variations in practice, the effectiveness of hydration as an alternative management option for delirium is unclear.
SUMMARY: More work is required to assess the role of hydration in delirium at the end of life. Given the lack of evidence-based research on hydration, more randomized clinical trials are needed to elucidate the effects of hydration as a delirium intervention.
Authors:
Chrissi Galanakis; Nancy E Mayo; Bruno Gagnon
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Current opinion in supportive and palliative care     Volume:  5     ISSN:  1751-4266     ISO Abbreviation:  Curr Opin Support Palliat Care     Publication Date:  2011 Jun 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-05-02     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  101297402     Medline TA:  Curr Opin Support Palliat Care     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  169-73     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
aDepartment of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Canada bDivision of Clinical Epidemiology, McGill University Health Centre, Canada cDepartment of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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