Pediatric Palliative Care at End of Life
摘要
When children approach end of life, pediatric palliative care (PPC) involvement can promote comfort and care that aligns with the wishes of patients and families. PPC is provided for children living with a serious illness and can be utilized throughout the patient’s life—up to and including their death. Pediatric hospice is a type of PPC with a focus on comfort provided specifically at a patient’s end of life. Unlike adult hospice, pediatric hospice can be provided concurrently with treatment intended to prolong life. For families, PPC involvement at end of life improves goal-concordant care and parental satisfaction with care, decreases anxiety and decisional regret, and improves coping and bereavement outcomes. For patients, PPC involvement improves satisfaction, symptom management, and quality of life while decreasing the frequency of painful and invasive procedures. PPC providers are also uniquely positioned to assist families during their grieving period and support other medical providers when navigating the grief associated with caring for a dying child.