Palliative Care and ENT Flashcards
What is a fungating tumour?
This is a tumour that uclerates and necrosis is present. It will present with bad smell, discharge etc
What is palliative care?
Is the approach to improve the quality of life for patients and families. Must take into consideration the patient’s wants e.g. if pain med will knock patient out (not allowing them to spend as much time with fam) then this might not be applicable.
What are the red flags for head and neck cancer?
sore throat hoarseness stridor difficulty swallowing lump in neck unilateral ear pain
Who do squamous cancers affect?
Older individuals that have alcohol and tobacco smoking as risk factors.
Who do HPV associated cancers usually affect?
Younger individuals and present differently with small tumours and big nodes.
Do HPV cancers have a better prognosis than squamous?
Yes
What can be affected when cancer in head and neck?
Speech taste and smell swallowing and nutrition airway and breathing communication, expression and socialising appearance and body image quality of life
What are the 5 staples of head and neck cancer treatment?
surgery radiotherapy chemotherapy nutritional support symptom management
Apart from hands what are the neck structures that experience the most pain?
Head and neck
What are the steps in the analgesic ladder?
- scottish palliative care guidelines
What is an adjuvant pain med?
anti-depressants -
amytriptiline
anti-convulsants - gabapentin and pregabalin
What are side effects of amytripitline?
Dry mouth
Dizziness
Postural hypertension
What is MST?
Slow release morphine that can be used instead of codeine
Why are chemotherapy adn radiotherapy given together?
Chemo is given to sensitise the tissues to radiotherapy
How does a syringe driver administer medication?
Sub-cutaneously over 24hrs
