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Essentials of Palliative Care pp 369–374Cite as

The Role of Palliative Care in Cardiothoracic Surgery

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Abstract

Palliative care in cardiothoracic surgery is as varied as the various anatomical entities covered by this discipline. Therefore, the application of palliative approach does not follow a uniform pattern. Palliation in congenital cardiac disorders aims at a partial anatomical as well as physiological relief in early childhood which would act as a stepping stone to more definitive future corrections. At times such palliation facilitates structural modifications that pave way for subsequent corrective procedures. Likewise, in the case of failing hearts among adults, palliation may assist as a bridge to successful transplantation. The meaning of palliation changes when it comes to providing symptomatic relief in case of advanced malignant afflictions of the esophagus or the lungs. Here, the aim is to offer freedom from pain and misery, and a lease of improved albeit temporary quality of life. This chapter briefly touches upon the history of palliation in cardiac surgery and presents an abridged but comprehensive account of various palliative modalities.

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References

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi, India

    Amit Banerjee M.S., M.Ch.

  2. Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India

    Amit Banerjee M.S., M.Ch.

Authors
  1. Amit Banerjee M.S., M.Ch.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amit Banerjee M.S., M.Ch. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University, New Haven, 06520, Connecticut, USA

    Nalini Vadivelu

  2. Citrus Road 278, River Ridge, 70123, Louisiana, USA

    Alan David Kaye

  3. Keck School of Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Pain Medic, of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 90035, California, USA

    Jack M. Berger

Appendices

Review Questions

  1. 1.

    Systemic-to-pulmonary artery shunts as palliative cardiac procedures are performed in:

    1. (a)

      Children with coronary artery disease

    2. (b)

      Adults with valvular heart disease

    3. (c)

      Patients with acyanotic congenital heart disease

    4. (d)

      Children with cyanotic heart disease

  2. 2.

    Helen Taussig was a:

    1. (a)

      Cardiac anesthetist

    2. (b)

      Pediatric cardiac surgeon

    3. (c)

      Vascular Surgeon

    4. (d)

      Pediatric cardiologist

  3. 3.

    Glenn’s original shunt was between:

    1. (a)

      Superior vena cava and the main pulmonary artery

    2. (b)

      Inferior vena cava and the right pulmonary artery

    3. (c)

      Superior vena cava and the right pulmonary artery

    4. (d)

      Superior vena cava and the left pulmonary artery

  4. 4.

    Indwelling stents are used for the palliation of:

    1. (a)

      Chest wall tumors

    2. (b)

      Pulmonary metastases

    3. (c)

      Advanced esophageal cancer

    4. (d)

      All of the above

  5. 5.

    All of the following are palliative surgical options except:

    1. (a)

      Metastasectomy

    2. (b)

      Pleurodesis

    3. (c)

      Debulking

    4. (d)

      Pneumonectomy

  6. 6.

    Palliation in cases of congenital heart disease is usually performed:

    1. (a)

      At school-going age

    2. (b)

      In early childhood

    3. (c)

      In the third decade of life

    4. (d)

      All of the above

Answers

  1. 1.

    (d)

  2. 2.

    (d)

  3. 3.

    (c)

  4. 4.

    (c)

  5. 5.

    (d)

  6. 6.

    (b)

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© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Banerjee, A. (2013). The Role of Palliative Care in Cardiothoracic Surgery. In: Vadivelu, N., Kaye, A., Berger, J. (eds) Essentials of Palliative Care. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5164-8_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5164-8_20

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-5163-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-5164-8

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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