Diarrhea in Palliative Care Patients

SUMMARY

Diarrhea in palliative care patients may be acute or chronic and may be due to infection or overuse of laxatives. Potential causes of diarrhea are discussed. Studies of drug therapy in the management of diarrhea in advanced disease patients are summarized. Evaluation instruments that have been used to assess this symptom are described. Some open research questions are listed. Four treatment algorithms, evidence tables and drug therapy tables which include drug costs are presented.

KEYWORDS:

• Diarrhea
• bowels
• fecal impaction
• palliative care
• terminal care
• dying
• supportive care
• drug therapy
• non-pharmacological therapy
• etiology
• evidence
• costs
• algorithm
• aspirin
• cholestyramine
• octreotide
• bismuth subsalicylate
• codeine
• cyproheptadine
• diphenoxylate
• loperamide
• kaolin
• pectin
• lipase
• opium
• opioids
• psyllium