Dyspnea management in palliative care: current approaches and treatment strategies

Abstract

Dyspnea is a common and challenging symptom to manage in palliative care patients. This review discusses the pathophysiology, assessment methods, and current treatment approaches for dyspnea based on the existing literature. Both pharmacological (opioids, benzodiazepines, glucocorticoids) and non-pharmacological (oxygen therapy, respiratory therapy, environmental modifications) treatment strategies are examined in detail, with a discussion on their efficacy and potential side effects. This study is a narrative review compiling the current literature on the topic.