1. Palliative Sedation Mike Harlos MD, CCFP, FCFP
Professor and Section Head, Palliative Medicine, University of Manitoba
Medical Director, Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Palliative Care
With liberal use of slides kindly shared with permission by:
Alexandra Beel, Palliative Care Clinical Nurse Specialist
Dr. Leah MacDonald, Palliative Care Physician

2. “When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less”

3. Terms Open to Various Interpretations
Unfortunately, those with the power to treat the suffering are also empowered with interpreting these terms, rather than the person experiencing the suffering
Terminal
Imminently dying
Refractory
Prolonged
Possible options
Severe/extreme/profound
Adequately controlled

4. Terms and Definitions for “Sedation”
Subjective Terminology Highlighted In Red
Chater et al. (1998)
Terminal sedation
The intention of deliberately inducing and maintaining deep sleep, but not deliberately causing death, for the relief of:
one or more intractable symptoms when all other possible interventions have failed, or
profound anguish.
In the next two slides you can see the variations in terminology and definitions used by various authors.
The definitions all cover slightly different aspects of sedation, ranging from Chater’s very explicit definition to Quill & Byock’s very general one.

5. Terms and Definitions ctd
Morita et al. (1999)
Sedation
A medical procedure to palliate patients’ symptoms refractory to standard treatment by intentionally dimming their consciousness.
Quill &Byock (2000)
Terminal sedation
The use of high doses of sedatives to relieve extremes of physical distress. (my emphasis)
You will notice two core factors that are present and are mentioned by other authors, such as Broeckaert and Nunez, and Cherny :
The use of sedation to relieve distress by reducing consciousness
And the presence of symptoms refractory to standard or other treatments.

6. Palliative Sedation (Broeckaert & Nunez, 2002)
“Palliative sedation is the intentional administration of sedative drugs in dosages and in combinations required to reduce the consciousness of a terminal patient as much as necessary to adequately relieve one or more refractory symptoms. (p. 170).”
A Working Definition of Sedation
In an attempt to clarify some of the definitions, Broeckaert and Nunez proposed the following:
Please Note: Deep loss of consciousness is not the primary aim, and sedatives should be administered with careful titration until acceptable symptom control is achieved. Dose escalation cannot be justified beyond this point… (Some exceptions)
Sedation is not about bringing deep and continuous sleep, but about reducing consciousness of a patient as much and as long as necessary. Individual titration is absolutely essential.
REFRACTORY SYMPTOM
The symptoms most commonly targeted are delirium, dyspnea and pain, but researchers note a lack of clarity also in the definition of what constitutes a refractory symptom. There might, of course be more than one reason in any given patient to start sedation.
This is the Broeckaert definition:

7. The Ethics Of Palliative Sedation As A Therapy Of Last Resort
National Ethics Committee, Veterans Health Hosp. 2007
Am. J. Hospice & Pall Med 23(6) 2007
“The administration of nonopioid drugs to sedate a terminally ill patient to unconsciousness as an intervention of last resort to treat severe, refractory pain or other clinical symptoms that have not been relieved by aggressive, symptom-specific palliation”
A Working Definition of Sedation
In an attempt to clarify some of the definitions, Broeckaert and Nunez proposed the following:
Please Note: Deep loss of consciousness is not the primary aim, and sedatives should be administered with careful titration until acceptable symptom control is achieved. Dose escalation cannot be justified beyond this point… (Some exceptions)
Sedation is not about bringing deep and continuous sleep, but about reducing consciousness of a patient as much and as long as necessary. Individual titration is absolutely essential.
REFRACTORY SYMPTOM
The symptoms most commonly targeted are delirium, dyspnea and pain, but researchers note a lack of clarity also in the definition of what constitutes a refractory symptom. There might, of course be more than one reason in any given patient to start sedation.
This is the Broeckaert definition:

8. Refractory symptoms Broeckaert
“Any given symptom can be considered refractory to treatment when it cannot be adequately controlled in spite of every tolerable effort to provide relief within an acceptable time period without compromising consciousness”.
As you can see this would apply to any symptom whether it was physical or psychological.

9. Refractory ctd
In deciding that a symptom is refractory, the clinician must perceive that further invasive and noninvasive interventions are either:
incapable of providing adequate relief
excessive / intolerable acute or chronic morbidity
unlikely to provide relief within a tolerable time frame (Cherny & Portenoy, 1994)
At times, adequate control of symptoms may be very difficult and the knowledge, skill and resources to palliate symptoms may not be available. Thus the labeling of a symptom as refractory may depend as much upon the experience of the physician as it does on the severity of the symptom. Concern has been expressed that if a physician is unable to relieve distressing symptoms he/she may feel pressurized to use sedation and even disproportionate sedation. –evaluating the severity of the symptom relies heavily on what the patient says / meaning if they are able to communicate with care providers.

10. Reasons for Sedation Symptoms Stone et al. (1997) (n=115)
Morita et al. (1999)
(n= 157)
Porta Sales (2001)
Delirium
60%
42%
39%
Dyspnea
20%
41%
38%
Pain
13%
22%
Bleeding - 9%
N/V 2% 6%
Fatigue
Psych
26%
21%
The most commonly reported reasons for sedation are reported in the following table.
While there is a large variation in the percentages it is once again difficult to know what exactly is being compared. The setting also would influence reasons for sedation. More than one reason given to start sedation
Porta Sales (2001) did a mean calculation of various studies

11. When is it “Sedation”?
In an imminently dying person, if there are unintended yet unavoidable sedating effects of medication intended to relieve
Pain
Nausea
Dyspnea
Is this “palliative sedation”, or is it simply aggressively treating pain, nausea, or dyspnea?
There is no intent or desire to sedate; if alternative effective means could be used, they would be.

12. When is it “Sedation”? ctd
In an irreversible delirium with hours or days to live and an agitated, restless state, effective options to relieve distress are limited to sedating the patient and supporting the family.
Is this “palliative sedation”, or treating a delirium?

13. What symptoms are “Bad Enough” to allow sedation as an inescapable outcome of effective treatment?

14. Is it “OK” for… Severe pain? Shortness of breath… choking to death
Nausea and vomiting… as in a bowel obstruction near death where someone is vomiting up feces, or ongoing vomiting of blood?
Anguish… severe emotional distress in someone who is hours to days from dying? If not… why not? ?

15. The Ethics Of Palliative Sedation As A Therapy Of Last Resort
National Ethics Committee, Veterans Health Hosp. 2007
Am. J. Hospice & Pall Med 23(6) 2007
“… permitting VA [Veterans Administration] practitioners to offer palliative sedation when the patient’s suffering cannot be defined in reference to clinical criteria could erode public trust in the agency…”
A Working Definition of Sedation
In an attempt to clarify some of the definitions, Broeckaert and Nunez proposed the following:
Please Note: Deep loss of consciousness is not the primary aim, and sedatives should be administered with careful titration until acceptable symptom control is achieved. Dose escalation cannot be justified beyond this point… (Some exceptions)
Sedation is not about bringing deep and continuous sleep, but about reducing consciousness of a patient as much and as long as necessary. Individual titration is absolutely essential.
REFRACTORY SYMPTOM
The symptoms most commonly targeted are delirium, dyspnea and pain, but researchers note a lack of clarity also in the definition of what constitutes a refractory symptom. There might, of course be more than one reason in any given patient to start sedation.
This is the Broeckaert definition:
In this statement, the patient’s needs have come second to public perception of the institution

16. Sedation for Anguish
Does “pain of the soul” not deserve the same aggressive approach as other types of distress in the imminently dying?
Is it wrong to “numb the brain” in order to address suffering experienced during wakefulness, or should you try to force the person to deal with the demons that plague him/her?
Is lying on one’s death bed, tortured by fear/regrets/guilt/despair less burdensome than severe physical pain caused by tumour?

17. What Will You Offer Otherwise?
“Journey with you”
“Walk your walk with you”
“Share your path”
“Be present”
Can you truly fulfill such a commitment?
Will you be there in the dark hours of the night, when solitude and silence magnify fear and despair?
Unless you have lived their lives and are dying their death, how can you presume to “share their journey”?

18. Sedation for Anguish
Just as in managing severe pain, dyspnea, nausea, agitated delirium when death is near, before accepting that an unconscious state is the only option for comfort, one must…

19. Sedation for Anguish ctd
Consider reversible causes
Explore available treatment options
Consult with expert colleagues (pastoral care, social work)
Thorough discussion and documentation; pre-emptive discussion about food and fluids
Ongoing, proactive communication with families
Consider a measured, titrated approach… “take the edge off” … not a on/off phenomenon like a light switch

20. A Specific Consideration in Palliative Sedation
What is the proximity of expected death from the terminal condition… hours, days, one week, 2 weeks, a month, more?
How does this compare to the time frame in which sedation itself might result in death?

21. Medications used in palliative sedation
Benzodiazepines (lorazepam, midazolam)
Neuroleptics (haloperidol, methotrimeprazine [Nozinan®])
Barbiturates (phenobarbital)
Propofol
Opioids if concomitant pain/dyspnea
Midazolam is by far the most widely used.
Decisions to proceed with sedation are never easy to make as they usually imply that the final stage has been reached. Sedation as a treatment should be discussed with the patient and family and the goal of care should be paramount. Some patients may opt for prolonging function as long as possible at the expense of comfort knowing that if the symptoms become intolerable sedation will be available.

22. Palliative Sedation vs. Euthanasia
Goal
Decrease suffering
Intent
To Sedate
To Kill
Process
Administration of sedating drug doses, titrated to effect
Administration of a lethal drug dose
Immediate
Outcome
Decreased level of consciousness
Death

23. A Common Concern About Aggressive Use Of Opioids/Sedatives In The Final Hours
How do you know that the aggressive use of opioids doesn't actually bring about or speed up the patient's death?

24. SUBCUTANEOUS MORPHINE IN TERMINAL CANCER
Bruera et al. J Pain Symptom Manage ; 5:

25. Typically, With Excessive Opioid Dosing
One Would See:
pinpoint pupils
gradual slowing of the respiratory rate
breathing is deep (though may be shallow) and regular

26. Common Breathing Patterns In The Final Hours
Cheyne-Stokes
Rapid, shallow
“Agonal” / Ataxic

27. DOCTRINE OF DOUBLE EFFECT
Wilkinson J. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine 1993: p 497-8
Where an action, intended to have a good effect, can achieve this effect only at the risk of producing a harmful/bad effect, then this action is ethically permissible providing:
The action is good in itself.
The intention is solely to produce the good effect (even though the bad effect may be foreseen).
The good effect is not achieved through the bad effect.
There is sufficient reason to permit the bad effect (the action is undertaken for a proportionately grave reason).

28. Benefits (Experiential) Burdens (Experiential)
Mount B., Flanders E.M.; Morphine Drips, Terminal Sedation, and Slow Euthanasia: Definitions and Fact, Not Anecdotes J Pall Care 12:4 1996; p 31-37
The principle of double effect is not confined to end-of-life circumstances
Good effects
Bad effects
Benefits (Experiential)
Burdens (Experiential)
Beneficial Effects (Clinical)
Side Effects (Clinical)

29. The doctrine of double effect can reassure health care providers who may otherwise withhold opioids in the dying out of fear that the opioid may hasten the dying process
A problem with the emphasis on double effect is that there in an implication that this is a common scenario…. in day-to-day palliative care it is extremely rare to need to even consider its implications

30. Case Presentation How would you approach this situation? 55 yo man
Multiple myeloma
While covering the ward for the day, asked to talk to him for “just a couple of minutes” about his wish to remain sedated
How would you approach this situation?

31. Thorough Assessment Why is the medical assessment relevant?
Need to assess “total burden of illness”, Prognosis, expected proximity of death
Hb 50
Short of breath, congested, bedridden, severely cachectic
Estimated prognosis at most 1 week, likely a few days
Why is the medical assessment relevant?

32. Why Is This Being Requested?
Treatable depression?
Fear of dying process – how will it happen?
How do people imagine their death will be?
Uncontrolled symptoms – pain, choking, confusion
Burden on family – “Better off without me”
No meaning/purpose/point in continued existence
Why don’t we talk more often about dying with people who are dying?

33. What is the ripple effect?
Family
Health Care Team

34. Consider Do you have misgivings about this?
Would you have misgivings if this were severe pain?