Attention to the agony

• May 2, 2024

The last days of a person sick terminal are usually marked by a drastic deterioration and announce his imminent death. It is possible that the patient enters into a coma or suffers from a decrease in consciousness which can have an emotional impact on the family and the therapeutic team, and may lead to a crisis of emotional claudication of all those involved.

Hence, the importance of adequate prevention and resolution. According to the Spanish Society of Palliative Care (SECPAL), it is normal that at this time a whole series of questions Y fears of the family: what will death be like? Will it have convulsions? How will I recognize that it has died? What do I have to do then?

Preparing for the worst

According to the SECPAL Palliative Care Guide, when the family faces the agony of a patient, well-known symptoms may appear (such as coma or disorientation of the patient) or new ones such as agitation psychomotor, respiratory disorders , fever high due to the high frequency of infections as a cause of death -especially in cancer patients-, extreme difficulty or inability to take food and liquids, anxiety, depression , fear (explicit or not) and urinary retention (especially if you take psychotropic), among others.

At this time, experts say, it is essential to be prepared and redefine the therapeutic objectives lending more support to the family.

How should you act?

Both the family and the therapeutic team must know a whole series of indications or general care that include: instructions on how to care for the bedridden patient, emphasizing the changes in posture or know how to change the linens , what are the most important mouth and skin care, as well as ulcer protections , in other aspects.

The more comfortable position For the sick person, the experts point out, it is to lay him on his side with his legs bent, as this decreases the stertorous breathing and facilitates skin care and the application of medicines rectally, as well as the care of urinary incontinence that for many weak but conscious patients, can cause distress. It is essential that the family know the specific instructions on the administration of certain drugs or how to make a telephone consultation in case the patient goes into a coma, has vomiting or hemorrhage.

The SECPAL Guide says that we should not forget that those who are sick, although confused, drowsy or disoriented also have perceptions, so you have to talk to them and ask them if they need something, if they rest well or what concerns them.

It is very important to take care of non-verbal communication (touch) and know the spiritual needs of the patient and his family. Although we do not like to talk about funeral procedures , it is essential to know how to recognize that the patient has died and how to contact the funeral home, transfers and costs.

It is convenient that these procedures are clear in advance, and not postpone them for the painful moment of death.

Video Medicine: !!ATTENTION!! Ce jeu d'horreur est ULTRA MALSAIN ! (Agony demo Gameplay) (May 2024).