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- Martinsson, Ulla, et al.
(författare)
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The use of blood transfusions and erythropoietin-stimulating agents in Swedish palliative care
- 2009
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Ingår i: Supportive Care in Cancer. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0941-4355 .- 1433-7339. ; 17:2, s. 199-203
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- To outline the use of blood transfusions and erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs) in palliative care in Sweden and to get an idea of whether or not these usually very sick patients benefit from the treatment. An internet-based questionnaire was sent out to 24 specialized palliative care units within the Swedish palliative research network. All data were registered by each member directly into a web-based survey generator from which the results were extracted and analyzed. Twenty-two units registered 1,046 patients (median age 68 years, 87% had a cancer diagnosis). Among these patients, 900 were enrolled in advanced home care and the others were treated in in-patient units. Erythrocyte transfusions were given to 174 patients (17%) during the month before registration with a mean amount of 2.9 units (range 1-18) given to each patient. Erythrocyte transfusions were given to 18% of the patients with a malignancy and to 11% of the patients with a non-malignant disease. Six patients also received thrombocyte transfusions. One hundred seventeen patients (68%) were judged to benefit from the erythrocyte transfusions. Eighty-two (58%) of the 141 transfused patients enrolled in advanced home care received their transfusions in their homes. ESAs was given to 127 patients (12%). Transfusions are not uncommon in Swedish palliative care. A majority seemed to benefit from the transfusions. Since they are expensive and time consuming, the effect should, however, be carefully evaluated in every individual in order to avoid ineffective treatment.
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