Palliative care of older glioblastoma patients in neurosurgery

Abstract

Purpose The care of older neurosurgical patients at the end life is a particularly demanding challenge. Especially, the specific needs of very old patients with glioblastoma at the end of life are at risk of being deprived of adequate care. Methods Based on a narrative literature review, this article aims to explore key issues of the thematic intersection of geriatric glioblastoma patients, palliative care and neurosurgery. Results and discussion Four key issues were identified: patient-centeredness (need orientation and decision making), early palliative care, advance care planning, and multi-professionalism. Possible benefits and barriers are highlighted with regard to integrating these concepts into neurosurgery. Conclusions Palliative care complements neurosurgical care of geriatric glioblastoma multiforme patients to optimise care for this highly vulnerable category of patients.

Communication in the context of glioblastoma treatment: A qualitative study of what matters most to patients, caregivers and health care professionals

“… 28 Palliative care services are often postponed until the last weeks or days of life. 29 However, research supports that curative and palliative intervention should overlap in time. 26 , 30 Screening tools aimed at the success of treatment but also query palliative care-related need, may help identify patients who would benefit from early palliative care.…”

Fascism in Medicine and Everyday Life

“…Signed informed consent is mandatory for all surgical candidates (Manrique-Guzmán et al 2017). Tacit consent must not be supposed, in particular, regarding end-of-life decisions (Berthold et al 2022). All the above is of particular importance for the elderly.…”

Surgical Procedures with Questionable Indications Used in Russia

“…161 Tacit consent must not be supposed, in particular, regarding end-of-life decisions [8]. 162 All the above is of importance especially for the elderly. For aged patients with newly diagnosed Gb, current recommendations include surgery; however, the survival is significantly worse than that in younger people [9].…”