TY - JOUR
T1 - Enteral and parenteral nutrition in terminally Ill cancer patients
T2 - A review of the literature
AU - Morss, Sydney
PY - 2006/10
Y1 - 2006/10
N2 - Many terminally ill patients who are able to eat appear to be eating less than they should, losing weight, and becoming malnourished, and many others develop difficulties with eating. These symptoms and signs are usually a marker of advanced cancer, rather than the cause of decreasing functional status, and providing supplemental nutrition rarely changes the course of the disease. This article reviews evidence on issues relevant to enteral and parenteral nutrition in patients with advanced cancer, including benefits, risks, and discomforts; how these types of nutrition are used and perceived, and how decisions are made; and how decision-making might be improved.
AB - Many terminally ill patients who are able to eat appear to be eating less than they should, losing weight, and becoming malnourished, and many others develop difficulties with eating. These symptoms and signs are usually a marker of advanced cancer, rather than the cause of decreasing functional status, and providing supplemental nutrition rarely changes the course of the disease. This article reviews evidence on issues relevant to enteral and parenteral nutrition in patients with advanced cancer, including benefits, risks, and discomforts; how these types of nutrition are used and perceived, and how decisions are made; and how decision-making might be improved.
KW - Enteral nutrition
KW - Parenteral nutrition
KW - Terminal cancer
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34247190291&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34247190291&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/1049909106292167
DO - 10.1177/1049909106292167
M3 - Article
C2 - 17060304
AN - SCOPUS:34247190291
SN - 1049-9091
VL - 23
SP - 369
EP - 377
JO - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
JF - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
IS - 5
ER -