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Serious Complications and Emergencies

Serious complications and emergencies in palliative care occur when there is a sudden and life-threatening change in a person’s condition. This may occur unexpectedly or may be predicted by the nature and progression of the older person’s illness.

Some of the more common and serious emergencies are explored further in this section.

Airway obstruction
CareSearch
This website describes the clinical evidence supporting management of airway obstruction in palliative care.
 
Respiratory symptoms and managing secretions in end of life care
NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation
In this video Dr Caitlin Sheehan discusses respiratory symptoms at the end of life.

Major bleeding
CareSearch
This website describes the clinical evidence supporting management of major bleeding in palliative care.

Bowel obstruction
CareSearch

This website describes the clinical evidence supporting management of bowel obstruction in palliative care.

Seizures
CareSearch
This website describes the clinical evidence supporting management of seizures in palliative care.

Spinal cord compression
CareSearch
This website describes clinical evidence on management of spinal cord compression in palliative care.