Refers to the use of medication to induce decreased or absent awareness to relieve the wise intractable suffering at the end of life.
Has an efficacy rate ranging from 71-92% as defined by the patient, family, or physician’s perspective for relief of refractory physical symptoms.
Such therapy is used when traditional opioid-based treatments are inadequate or cause unacceptable adverse effects.
It may be used to treat pain, dyspnea, nausea, delirium, or other physical symptoms.
Most treatments utilized a midazolam-based regimen, as the drug has a short half-life, benign adverse effects, and can be given intravenously or by sub cutaneous administration with good efficacy.
Other agents used for palliative sedation include barbiturates, ketamine or propofol.
Mostly is utilized as a continuous sedation until gas, but can be used intermittently.
Can be utilized for existential or psychological suffering.