The uso da via subcutânea em cuidados paliativos

elaboração de um protocolo institucional

Abstract

Introduction: With the population-ageing and the increase in cases of cancer and chronic degenerative diseases, there was a need to address Palliative Care (PC). It is essential to control the symptoms inherent to this stage of life and, often, medications cannot be administered orally, requiring an alternative, which is a subcutaneous (SC). Objective: Elaboration of an institutional protocol that guides the prescription and administration of medications via SC. Methodology: A literature review was carried out with the guiding question “How to improve the safety of patients
who need medication via the SC route in a health care service where there is no consensus on the form of administration via this route?”. Then, we selected articles from PubMed, Scielo, Cochrane, Google Scholar, and direct search on CP sites, Societies Guidelines and recommended references in manuals with the descriptors “subcutaneous infusions”, “hypodermoclysis” and “palliative
care” and their translations to English and Spanish. Results / Discussion: Of the 25 selected articles, information about the indications and contraindications of the method, advantages and disadvantages in relation to other routes, adverse effects and the most recommended drugs were selected. A table of drugs that can be administered via SC was also drawn up. Conclusion: The Internal Medicine Clinic and the Medicines Information and Control Service of the Department of Pharmacy of the HNMD developed an institutional protocol that guides the professionals of the
institution on the correct prescription and administration of medications via SC, which was submitted and approved by the Pharmacy Committee and Hospital Therapeutics and made available on the intranet.