Dyspnoea in Advanced Disease: A Guide to Clinical Management

From The Critics

Reviewer: K. P. Ravikrishnan, FRCP(C), FACP (William Beaumont Hospitals)
Description: Dyspnea in Advanced Diseases edited by Sharon Booth and Deborah Dudgeon, explains the pathophysiology of dyspnea which will help the caregivers understand the symptom better and provide optimal care. Better understanding of the symptom by the caregivers will help to come up with guidelines for patients with terminal illness. Better understanding will also help the caregivers to direct their efforts in research which is very much lacking in this area. The contents in this book explore the complexity of the pathogenesis and help the reader to understand the pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches in the management of patients with dyspnea.
Purpose: Dyspnea seen in pulmonary, cardiac and a variety of clinical disorders is a complex and distressing symptom and often is a daunting task to come up with a precise management plan. The authors aim here is to use this book as a guide to provide optimal care for a dyspneic patient in a disciplined approach. This book will be used well by physicians' nurses who provide day to day care for patients with the distressing symptom of dyspnea.
Audience: Pulmonary physicians, Nurses, Residents in internal medicine, pulmonary fellows, oncologist, nurse clinicians, palliative care specialists.
Features: The contents in this book explore the complexity of the pathogenesis and help the reader to understand the pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches in the management of patients with dyspnea. The chapter on pulmonary rehabilitation is a must read for healthcare personnel providing care for patients with diseases leading to air hunger; i.e., COPD. This book is a valuable resource for designing care and plans for patients with end-stage diseases like COPD, CHF, and advanced malignancies and can help the care of patients in various stages of their disease. Multidisciplinary specialists have given their input into this book. Patients who often have a combination of diseases with a distressing symptom of dyspnea are managed by multiple physicians. Better understanding and approaching the symptom with relief in mind will ultimately help in the care of the patient. The theme of shared care is well emphasized in this book. Healthcare personnel who provide care for patients with terminal illness can improve their overall care by abandoning their indifferent approach in coping with the problem of breathlessness.
Assessment: This is an organized book explaining the pathophysiology of dyspnea and well suited for physicians, nurses, respiratory therapists and palliative care personnel who provide care for patients with end-stage pulmonary, cardiac, renal and malignant diseases. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches with the rationale for such interventions are very helpful for physicians and patient alike. Rehabilitation personnel can use this book to help their patients cope with the symptom of dyspnea which often limits the patients' activities.