Parenteral hydration in patients with advanced cancer: a multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized trial.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The vast majority of patients with cancer at the end of life receive parenteral hydration in hospitals and no hydration in hospice, with limited evidence supporting either practice. In this randomized controlled trial, we determined the effect of hydration on symptoms associated with dehydration, quality of life, and survival in patients with advanced cancer.

Patients and methods

We randomly assigned 129 patients with cancer from six hospices to receive parenteral hydration (normal saline 1 L per day) or placebo (normal saline 100 mL per day) daily over 4 hours. The primary outcome was change in the sum of four dehydration symptoms (fatigue, myoclonus, sedation and hallucinations, 0 = best and 40 = worst possible) between day 4 and baseline. Secondary outcomes includ

SUBMITTER: Bruera E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3530688 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature