BSTRACT BSTRACT Objectives: to identify the profile of the caregivers of terminally ill patient, to inquire the activities, changes and difficulties. The researchers applied a questionnaire. From all the 53 caregivers, 48 were female. 92% of the caregivers were relative to the patient. Despite of the financial problems, their relationship between caregiver and patient improved. The hygiene cares, feeding, medication were responsibility of the caregiver. The activities developed increased their amount of job, negative physical and psychical repercussions appeared. 60% of the caregivers answered that the most convenient place of the patient's death was the hospital, 40% chose home. There is a distinction between the routine of care and the death of the patient; the caregivers in fact take care of life. Descriptors Descriptors Descriptors Descriptors Descriptors: Bioethics; Terminally ill; Quality of life; Hospice care; Caregivers. RESUMEN RESUMEN RESUMEN RESUMEN RESUMEN Objetivos: identificar el perfil de los cuidadores del enfermo terminal, investigar las actividades, los cambios y las dificultades que ocurrieron. Los investigadores aplicaran un cuestionario. De los 53 cuidadores, 48 eran mujeres. 92% tenían algún grado de parentesco con el paciente. A pesar de los problemas financieros, los cuidadores afirmaron que su relación ha mejorado. Los cuidados de higiene, alimentación, medicación son de responsabilidad de los cuidadores. Aumentaron la sobrecarga y, surgieron repercusiones negativas de naturaleza física y psíquica. 60% de los cuidadores dijeron que el lugar más conveniente de la muerte era el hospital y 40% eligieron hogar. Existe una distinción entre los cuidados con el paciente y el proceso de muerte, los cuidadores cuidan de facto de la vida. 9 9 jan-fev jan-fev jan-fev jan-fev jan-fev; 6

Objective To describe the 5-year practice on palliative sedation in a specialized palliative care unit in a deprived region in Brazil, and to compare survival of patients with advanced cancer who were and were not sedated during their end-of-life care. Method Retrospective cohort study in a tertiary teaching hospital. We described the practice of palliative sedation and compared the survival time between patients who were and were not sedated in their last days of life. Results We included 906 patients who were admitted to the palliative care unit during the study period, of whom, 92 (10.2%) received palliative sedation. Patients who were sedated were younger, presented with higher rates of delirium, and reported more pain, suffering, and dyspnea than those who were not sedated. Median hospital survival of patients who received palliative sedation was 9.30 (CI 95%, 7.51–11.81) days and of patients who were not sedated was 8.2 (CI 95%, 7.3–9.0) days (P = 0.31). Adjusted for age and sex, palliative sedation was not significantly associated with hospital survival (hazard ratio = 0.93; CI 95%, 0.74–1.15). Significance of results Palliative sedation can be accomplished even in a deprived area. Delirium, dyspnea, and pain were more common in patients who were sedated. Median survival was not reduced in patients who were sedated.

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Objetivo: Identificar a prevalência de pacientes com câncer avançado atendidos num serviço de Cuidados Paliativos. Métodos: Estudo quantitativo, descritivo, retrospectivo e prospectivo, através dos prontuários e contato telefônico com familiares de pacientes atendidos no serviço de cuidados paliativos. Resultados: Dos 770 prontuários, 58,31% eram de mulheres, a média  da idade na admissão foi 61,92. Os tumores de cabeça e pescoço, pulmão, colo de útero, mama e próstata foram os mais prevalentes. Dor, constipação e dispneia foram os sintomas mais encontrados. Identificou-se que 23,64% dos pacientes não foram submetidos a nenhum tipo de tratamento modificador da doença antes de serem encaminhados ao serviço de Cuidados Paliativos. Dos pacientes atendidos, 92,21% não realizaram tratamento modificador da doença após o encaminhamento ao serviço. Conclusão: Os pacientes que recorreram à assistência paliativa são predominantemente mulheres, de idades mais avançadas, que necessitavam de manejo apropriado dos sintomas. Pode-se aferir que há relação entre os tipos de cânceres mais prevalentes e o sexo feminino ser mais predominante no serviço de Cuidados Paliativos.