Management of common neurologic symptoms in pediatric palliative care: seizures, agitation, and spasticity

Courtney J Wusthoff; Renée A Shellhaas; Daniel J Licht

doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2007.06.004

Management of common neurologic symptoms in pediatric palliative care: seizures, agitation, and spasticity

Pediatr Clin North Am. 2007 Oct;54(5):709-33, xi. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2007.06.004.

Authors

Courtney J Wusthoff¹, Renée A Shellhaas, Daniel J Licht

Affiliation

¹ Division of Child Neurology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, 6th Floor Wood Building, 34th and Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.

PMID: 17933619
DOI: 10.1016/j.pcl.2007.06.004

Abstract

Palliative care for children is complex and focuses on patients' comfort. Some of the most troublesome symptoms as patients approach the end of life are seizures, agitation, and spasticity. Many doctors caring for children at the end of life are uncomfortable or untrained in managing these symptoms in children. Our goal is to help physicians recognize and treat these neurologic symptoms optimally.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Review

MeSH terms

Brain / physiopathology*
Child
Drug Therapy / methods
Humans
Muscle Spasticity / drug therapy
Muscle Spasticity / physiopathology*
Muscle Spasticity / therapy*
Palliative Care*
Psychomotor Agitation / drug therapy
Psychomotor Agitation / physiopathology*
Psychomotor Agitation / therapy*
Seizures / drug therapy
Seizures / physiopathology*
Seizures / therapy*

Grants and funding

K23NS052380/NS/NINDS NIH HHS/United States