P18.10 * ASSESSMENT OF CLINICAL SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AS WELL AS TREATMENT IN THE END OF LIFE OF GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: High grade gliomas are the most frequent primary brain tumours. Despite improvement of novel targeted therapies survival is still poor. In the last years the importance of quality of life came to the fore. It is well known that patients who suffer from a primary malignant brain tumour differ in the end of life phase from other oncological patients. The aim of this study is to surveysign and symptomsas well as therapeutic strategies in patients with malignant gliomas in an end of life hospital setting. METHODS: The end of life of 57 consecutive patients, who died due to a malignant glioma in a hospital setting, was analysed prospectively using a standardized protocol. Clinical signs and symptoms and supportive therapy were analysed within the last 10 days before death. RESULTS: Sixty-eight percent of patients (n = 39/57) were male, 32% (n= 18/57) were female with a mean age of 59 years (Standard deviation [SD]+11) and an overall survival of 48 weeks (SD +47). Most frequent symptoms were decrease of vigilance (95%, n = 54/57), fever (88%, n = 50/54), dysphagia (65%, n = 37/ 54), seizures (65%, n = 37/57) and headache(33%, n = 19/57). Eighteen patients (32%) sustained pneumonia. In 13 patients (23%) a urinary tract infection was diagnosed. With respect to treatment, 95% (n = 54/57) needed opioids. In 77% (n = 44/57) NSAIDs were administered additively. 86% (n = 49/57) received gastric protection, 88% (n = 50/57) LMWH and 91%(n= 52/57) intravenous fluids. In75%(n = 43/57) anticonvulsant medication was needed. Steroids were administered in 56% (n = 32/57) of patients and only 26% (n = 15/57) received antibiotics. DISCUSSION: Due to a decrease of vigilance and cognitive impairment, assessment of clinical signs and symptoms such as pain in the end of life is often difficult. As reported signs and symptoms such as headache, dysphagia, seizures and fever are the most common ones, interventions and treatment strategies should be focused on these symptoms. Our study emphasizes the importance of standardized guidelines for end of life care in patients with malignant gliomas.