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Review
. 2017 Jun;34(2):140-144.
doi: 10.1055/s-0037-1602756. Epub 2017 Jun 1.

The Intersection of Palliative Care and Interventional Radiology: Enhancing Understanding and Collaboration

Mary K Buss  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

The Intersection of Palliative Care and Interventional Radiology: Enhancing Understanding and Collaboration

Mary K Buss. Semin Intervent Radiol. 2017 Jun.

Abstract

In the treatment of cancer patients, many interventional radiologic procedures are palliative in nature. The goal for these therapies is often something other than cure, such as prolonged survival or improved quality of life. The goals of therapy should be matched with the patient's wishes, and must include open communication between the health care provider and the patient. Hospice and palliative medicine is its own specialty, and a multidisciplinary approach to the care of cancer patients should include discussions with these health care specialists. This article will briefly define palliative care in general, describe the specialty of hospice and palliative medicine, and discuss how hospice differs from palliative care. Finally, it will highlight opportunities for interventional radiology specialists to incorporate more deliberately palliative care skills and competencies into their own practice and to collaborate with palliative care specialists.

Keywords: cancer; interventional radiology; palliative care; quality of life.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Appropriate timing for intervention of palliative care, maximizing palliative care in maximizing a quality of life model. (American Academy of Hospice Palliative Medicine, Center to Advance Palliative Care. National Consensus Project for Quality Palliative Care: Clinical Practice Guidelines for quality palliative care, executive summary. J Palliat Med 2004;7(5):611–627.)
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