Loading phenobarbital in paediatric home-based terminal care: A case series

This episode features Jo-Anne J. Kelly (Palliative Care South East, Narre Warren, VIC, Australia (Palliative Care South East, Narre Warren, VIC, Australia) and Dr Karen Aisling Griffin (Palliative Care South East, Narre Warren, VIC, Australia, Peninsula Health, Frankston, VIC, Australia)

What is already known about this topic?

• Phenobarbital loading in the adult palliative cohort for refractory symptom management has been used for many years. However, there is little evidence, nor a guideline for palliative sedation for children at home.

What does this paper add?

• An initial loading dose of phenobarbital may provide enhanced and quicker relief of refractory symptoms in the paediatric palliative care cohort receiving home-based terminal care.

Implications for practice, theory, or policy?

• Further research is required to determine the efficacy of, and guidelines for administration of, a loading dose of phenobarbital for paediatric palliative care patients in the terminal phase, presenting with intractable symptoms.

Full paper available from:

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/02692163251365440

If you would like to record a podcast about your published (or accepted) Palliative Medicine paper, please contact Dr Amara Nwosu:

a.nwosu@lancaster.ac.uk