Retrospective Analysis of Patients Followed at Van Training and Research Hospital Palliative Care Unit

INTRODUCTION: Palliative care has taken place in the health system in the world over the last 30 years as a care system that includes medical and supportive treatments to alleviate the suffering of persons with difficult or impossible treatment. In this study, we aimed to evaluate retrospectively the patients treated and followed-up in our hospital palliative care service.
METHODS: The data of 327 patients who were followed-up and treated in the palliative care unit of Van Training and Research Hospital between May 2015 and February 2017 were reviewed retrospectively.
RESULTS: Of the 327 patients, 137 (41.9%) were female and 190 (58.1%) were male. The median age was 63 and the age range was between 12 and 96 years. 87.8% of the patients were followed up due to cancer and cancer related complications. The most common cancer was stomach (32.7%) and esophagus (11.3%). Among the reasons for admission, oral intake disorder was 34.6%; pain palliation 24.5%; oral intake impairment / pain palliation 16,2%. Total parenteral nutrition was applied to 57.2% of the patients, jejunostomy was performed in 2 patients, and percutaneous enterogastrostomy was performed in 1 patient. 67% of patients underwent pharmacologic and invasive treatment for pain palliation. In follow-up, 77 patients (23.5%) died.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: With the increase in the number of elderly population, chronic diseases and bed dependent patients, palliative care needs and awareness are increasing in non-cancer patients. Increasing the number of palliative care centers will improve the quality of life of end-cancer patients and other patient groups and their families.