Background Limited data is available on the quality of end-of-life care for patients with hematologic malignancies. In this retrospective cohort study, we compared the quality of end-of-life care between patients with hematologic malignancies and those with solid tumors. Methods All adult patients who died of advanced cancer between 9/1/2009 and 2/28/2010 while under the care of our institution were included. We collected baseline demographics and end-of-life care indicators, including emergency room visits, hospitalization, intensive care unit admissions, and systemic cancer therapy use within the last 30 days of life. Results 113/816 (14%) decedents had hematologic malignancies. In the last 30 days of life, hematologic patients were more likely to have emergency room visits (54% vs. 43%, P=0.03), hospital admissions (81% vs. 47%, P<0.001), >=2 admissions (23% vs. 10%, P<0.001), >14 days of hospitalization (38% vs. 8%, P<0.001), intensive care unit admissions (39% vs. 8%, P<0.001) and death (33% vs. 4%, P<0.001), chemotherapy use (43% vs. 14%, P<0.001), and targeted therapy use (34% vs. 11%, P<0.001) compared to patients with solid tumors. Patients with hematologic malignancies were also less likely to have palliative care unit admissions (8% vs. 17%, P=0.02). The composite score for aggressiveness of care (0=best, 6=worst) was significantly higher among patients with hematologic malignancies than those with solid tumors (median 2 vs. 0, P<0.001). In multivariate analysis, hematologic malignancy was a significant factor associated with aggressive end-of-life care (odds ratio 6.6, 95% confidence interval 4.1–10.7, P<0.001). Conclusions Patients with hematologic malignancies received more aggressive care at the end-of-life.

Context The terms “actively dying,” “end of life,” “terminally ill,” “terminal care,” and “transition of care” are commonly used but rarely and inconsistently defined. Objectives We conducted a systematic review to examine the concepts and definitions for these terms. Methods We searched MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase, and CINAHL for published peer-reviewed articles from 1948 to 2012 that conceptualized, defined, or examined these terms. Two researchers independently reviewed each citation for inclusion and then extracted the concepts/definitions when available. We also searched 10 dictionaries, four palliative care textbooks, and 13 organization Web sites, including the U.S. Federal Code. Results One of 16, three of 134, three of 44, two of 93, and four of 17 articles defined or conceptualized actively dying, end of life, terminally ill, terminal care, and transition of care, respectively. Actively dying was defined as “hours or days of survival.” We identified two key defining features for end of life, terminally ill, and terminal care: life-limiting disease with irreversible decline and expected survival in terms of months or less. Transition of care was discussed in relation to changes in 1) place of care (e.g., hospital to home), 2) level of professions providing the care (e.g., acute care to hospice), and 3) goals of care (e.g., curative to palliative). Definitions for these five terms were rarely found in dictionaries, textbooks, and organizational Web sites. However, when available, the definitions were generally consistent with the concepts discussed previously. Conclusion We identified unifying concepts for five commonly used terms in palliative care and developed a preliminary conceptual framework toward building standardized definitions.

Cancer care near the EOL has become more aggressive with time at one of the hospitals in the Veterans Affairs healthcare system (VAHS). Institution of a PCS service was unable to completely decrease this trend of increasing aggressiveness of cancer care near the EOL. However, timely PCS consults may help attenuate this aggressiveness.

Advanced cancer patients are often affected by multiple complex symptoms brought about by persistent nociceptive stimuli and intense psychosocial distress. One such complex symptom, cancer pain, has continued to pose a challenge in medical management even though the concept of total pain was described several years ago by Cicely Saunders. Oftentimes, the application of a multidisciplinary approach is delayed after numerous opioid dose escalations and invasive procedures have been performed. The case presented here highlights the importance of timely multidisciplinary intervention and the use of an acute palliative care unit, which resulted in adequate pain control after multiple medical and invasive procedures that caused toxicities.