Artificial nutrition and hydration in the last week of life in @entity5 XXXX . A systematic literature review of practices and effects.

@entity1 @entity390 @entity5 @entity843 @entity3147 @entity933 @entity16406
BACKGROUND: The benefits and burdens of @entity3147 ( @entity3147 ) and @entity16406 ( @entity16406 ) in end-of-life care are unclear. We carried out a literature review on the use of @entity3147 and @entity16406 in the last days of life of @entity5 @entity1 . MATERIALS AND METHODS: We systematically searched for papers in PubMed, CINAHL, PsycInfo and EMBASE. All English papers published between January 1998 and July 2009 that contained data on frequencies or effects of @entity3147 or @entity16406 in @entity5 @entity1 in the last days of life were included. RESULTS: Reported percentages of @entity1 receiving @entity3147 or @entity16406 in the last week of life varied from 3% to 53% and from 12% to 88%, respectively. Five studies reported on the effects of @entity16406 : two found positive effects (less chronic @entity390 , less physical dehydration signs), two found negative effects (more @entity843 , more intestinal drainage) and four found also no effects on terminal @entity933 , thirst, chronic @entity390 and fluid overload. No study reported on the sole effect of @entity3147 . CONCLUSIONS: Providing @entity3147 or @entity16406 to @entity5 @entity1 who are in the last week of life is a frequent practice. The effects on comfort, symptoms and length of survival seem limited. Further research will contribute to better understanding of this important topic in end-of-life care.
