Hui et al reported clinical findings associated with impending death for patients with advanced cancer in two papers. These findings can alert the family and clinicians to the approaching death. The authors are from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Barretos Cancer Hospital (Brazil), and Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile.
Patient selection: advanced cancer
Outcome: death within 3 days
Specific clinical findings (2014):
(1) Cheyne-Stokes breathing
(2) death rattle
(3) pulselessness of the radial artery
(4) respiration with mandibular movement
(5) decreased urine output
Additional clinical findings (2014):
(1) periods of apnea
(2) peripheral cyanosis
Bedside clinical signs (2015):
(1) nonreactive pupils
(2) decreased response to verbal stimuli
(3) decreased response to visual stimuli
(4) an inability to close the eyelids
(5) drooping of the nasolabial folds
(6) hyperextension of the neck
(7) grunting of vocal cords
(8) bleeding from the upper gastrointestinal tract
Purpose: To identify clinical findings associated with impending death of a patient with advanced cancer based on the study of Hui et al.
Specialty: Hematology Oncology, Surgery, general
Objective: clinical diagnosis, including family history for genetics, severity, prognosis, stage, end-of-life, palliative care
ICD-10: C00-C14, C15-C26, C30-C39, C40-C41, C43-C44, C45-C49, C50-C50, C51-C58, C60-C63, C64-C68, C69-C72, C73-C75, C76-C80, C81-C96, C97-C97,