Healthcare professionals should train caregivers during hospital visits, empowering them to manage acute symptoms and provide simple nursing care. This is doubly important in countries where resources are limited and palliative care facilities scarce.
A bstract: Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a technique for obliterating intracranial targets that are inaccessible or unsuitable for open surgical techniques. By means of wellcollimated beams of ionizing radiation, a high-dose, single fraction of radiation is delivered to a defined volume of tissue. The entrance and exit doses are distributed in such a way that tissue outside the target is minimally affected. Treatment effects are seen on scans or angiograms after several months or a few years; consequently, follow-up scans are necessary. The first 72 patients who underwent SRS at the Department of Neurological Sciences and Radiation Therapy, Christian Medical College and Hospital were followed. Of the 72 treated, 35 had arteriovenous malformations, while 37 had brain tumors. Of the 37 patients with brain tumors, 14 had meningioma and 17 had acoustic neuroma. Six patients had other lesions such as pineal tumor, hemangioblastoma, astrocytoma, or metastasis. Of 72 patients, 43 came for follow-up. Twenty-three of the followed-up patients showed improvement; 10 clinically and radiologically remained the same, and 2 died due to recurrence. Of 43 patients, 3 continue to have cranial nerve deficit. Four patients were later found to have central necrosis and clinical deterioration. Observation of outcomes following SRS helps neuroscience nurses identify home healthcare strategies such as chest care, eye care, facial massage, and exercises along with the other specific nursing care. Although nursing care has become more technically oriented, the patient's physical, educational, spiritual, and emotional needs must be addressed.
Transition in disease epidemiology has led to a significant increase in non-communicable diseases worldwide. This had led to an increase in patients with a terminal illness that requires quality EOL care. Providing excellent care for a dying patient is something all patients deserve. Recent studies have suggested that good death is the primary endpoint of end-of-life (EOL) care. The aim of the study was to assess the concept of good death amongst terminally ill patients. A descriptive research design was adopted for the study. The study was conducted in a hospice in Chennai. A total of 120 terminally ill patients were selected purposively. An open-ended question was used to assess the concept of good death. Frequency and percentage for each of the responses were calculated. Three-fourth (75%) of the patients considered 'death without pain' as a good death. Following this, death during sleep (21.66%), death in the presence of a loved one (17.5%) completion of responsibilities (10%), death without suffering (9.16%), sudden death (5%) and death while being independent (4.16%) were termed as a good death. Quality EOL care is synonymous with holistic compassionate EOL care. Study findings conclude that nurses may be utilised in a more formalised and systematic way to deal with the psychosocial existential issues during EOL care and thus enhancing good death in patients.
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