Perioperative Considerations for Palliative and Terminally Ill Patients

Pain related to serious illness, especially cancer, is a common complaint amongst patients with terminal illness or receiving palliative care. Anesthesiologists must carefully consider how to control these patients’ intra- and postoperative pain due to their complex pre-existing pain managementPain management regimens and potential contraindications to certain adjuvantAdjuvant pain medications. Understanding the patient’s baseline opioidOpioids use and how to convert it to appropriate intravenous formulations is crucial. Additionally, anesthesiologists should recognize that terminally ill patients are susceptible to non-physical types of painTypes of pain, which may emerge or worsen during the perioperative periodPerioperative period. It is essential for anesthesiologists to be familiar with non-pharmacological interventions to address these different facets of a patient's total painTotal pain.