Respiratory Disease: From Advanced Disease To Bereavement

Respiratory disease is the second most common cause of death worldwide. Patients with advanced non-malignant disease, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, have similar or even greater health care needs than those with advanced lung cancer. Uncontrolled symptoms, distress, and social isolation contribute to the poor quality of life experienced by such patients. This book provides practical guidance to professionals who care for patients with advanced respiratory disease. It gives evidence-based advice on a wide range of topics, including management of respiratory and non-respiratory symptoms, chronic respiratory failure, and respiratory emergencies. Recognition of when a patient may be approaching the end of life can be particularly challenging in patients with advanced respiratory disease. Ways to facilitate prognostication are covered, along with the significant communication and ethical challenges that this phase of life can present. Written by a respiratory specialist and two palliative medicine physicians, this book will be of great value to doctors, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals working in respiratory medicine and in palliative care, both in relation to everyday clinical practice as well as meeting the requirements for postgraduate exams. Table of Contents: 1. End-stage respiratory disease; 2. Chronic respiratory failure from end-stage disease; 3. Health-related quality of life in end-stage respiratory disease; 4. Recognizing the end of life phase; 5. Respiratory symptoms; 6. Non-respiratory symptoms; 7. Emergencies in advanced respiratory disease; 8. Communication with patients and families; 9. Ethical and legal considerations; 10. Multidisciplinary working; 11. Practical management at the end of life; 12. Care in the terminal phase; 13. Spiritual and cultural needs; 14. Caring for the carers