Synopsis
Respiratory symptoms such as breathlessness and cough are common in patients with advancing and incurable disease. For example, cancer, chronic cardiac and pulmonary disease, progressive neuromuscular disorders and degenerative disorders all give rise to varying degrees of respiratory distress which adversely affects the patient's quality of life. In recent years, there has been significant growth into the palliation of respiratory symptoms leading to practical ways of giving relief in hospices, hospitals and at home.
The book includes non-malignant respiratory diseases such as tuberculosis in AIDS patients; ventilator-dependent patients and cystic fibrosis and focuses on aetiology and diagnosis and management, emphasizing symptoms, quality of life and psychosocial support. The underlying theme of the book is the application of modern research-based knowledge, in a humane way, for patients with advancing disease.
Aimed primarily at specialists in palliative care, oncology and respiratory physicians; doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and pharmacists will also be interested. The book will appeal to those working in 'acute' specialties such as cardiology or pulmonary medicine, whose patients are not usually considered for palliative care, but in whom relief of distressing respiratory problems could improve the quality of life.
Doody Review Services
Reviewer:K. P. Ravikrishnan, FRCP (C), FACP FCCP(William Beaumont Hospitals)
Description:This book deals with the care of patients with chronic respiratory illnesses. The chapters are contributed by experts and leaders in the field of palliative care and the book is a collection of thoughts and deeds of many who have dedicated their work to this field.
Purpose:This supportive care book is intended to provide the groundwork for managing patients with chronic respiratory illnesses by drawing resources from various disciplines.
Audience:This book is meant for students of medicine, caregivers for medical and any chronic respiratory illnesses, teachers and care providers in chronic care units, nurses, respiratory therapists and pulmonary specialists. It will be instructional and inspirational to a young reader, and for an expert, it will be an endorsement of their efforts in daily care.
Features:The editors are leaders in the field of palliative care with a wealth of experience and they share their experiences with us through this book. It is well referenced and can function as a guide to design palliative care services. Editors have chosen multiple authors to cover common problems in a variety of respiratory illnesses. The care of patients in specific chronic pulmonary diseases like malignancy, HIV, pulmonary disease and tuberculosis is particularly well done and will be treasured by those who deal with these problems daily. In writing the foreword, Professor Margaret Turner-Warwick with her vast experience in the field of pulmonary medicine puts it well: "This book sets standards in care for respiratory and non-respiratory illnesses." Palliative care as defined in this book addresses care for a variety of symptoms for which the patient seeks out medical care in the first place. This book covers many aspects of illnesses, which will make you want to approach the chronic illness with the patient's perspective in mind.
Assessment:This book is a complete compendium of comfort care in chronic respiratory illness and will lead to many similar works in other disciplines following a similar model. The thorough review of dyspnea in a variety of clinical settings should lay a foundation of supportive care in any chronic illnesses. This book especially focuses and emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach in the end-of-life care in chronic respiratory illnesses and succeeds in defining and providing end-of-life care.