Refractory Dyspnoea in Palliative Care: Implementing High Flow Oxygen Therapy AIRVO2 Into Palliative Care and End of Life Care in the Community (2025)

Type of publication:

Conference abstract

Author(s):

*Raton M.; *Rowe N.; *Wood G.;

Citation:

American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. Conference: American Thoracic Society International Conference, ATS 2025. San Francisco, CA United States. 211 (no pagination), 2025. Date of Publication: 01 May 2025.

Abstract:

Palliative patients often present to secondary care settings with respiratory distress during the endstage of their disease. Conventional oxygen therapy alongside opioid therapy has widely been considered the treatment of choice for dyspnoea and symptom alleviation. With an increasing number of palliative patients and the national drive for service improvement, the Respiratory Team have identified an additional method to enhance current practice. Based on previous positive experience gained since 2013 from utilising High Flow Oxygen Therapy (HFOT) during the acute stages of respiratory disease, it was decided to extend this therapy to patients with chronic disease and palliative needs. The physiological and clinical benefits of HFOT include reduction in dyspnoea and decreased work of breathing, augmentation of respiratory drive, improved quality of life, and comfort level in this patient population. During work on the COVID cohort ward (March 2020- Dec 2021) AIRVO2 was used routinely as a first-line treatment in over 300 patients and continued in over 70 patients in the palliation/ End of Life (EoL) pathway. Since then, AIRVO2 in combination with lowdose opioids has been used in Palliative/ EoL care routinely. In 2022 the first discharge from the hospital was facilitated to continue optimised treatment. Benefits from HFOT in EoL/ Palliative usage should be focused on comfort and symptom control with optimised FiO2 requirements. We looked at three patients who were discharged from hospital on HFOT: two patients to the hospice and one home. With the combined HTOT and conventional palliative management, we observed a significantly decreased requirement of opioid use, leading to a reduction in side effects such as drowsiness or palliative sedation. This enabled patients to experience interaction with family and friends at the end of their life. On each occasion, good feedback has been received from the family, hospice, and patients. Extending HTOT usage to the community enhances best interest care for individuals and avoids abrupt termination of therapy initiated in the hospital. This prevents palliative patients with symptomatic breathlessness from having to compromise on either place of death or symptomatic breathlessness. HFOT usage out of the hospital decreases the number of readmissions with the focus on extended care in the community. Discharging patients to the community requires a clear advanced care plan and close cooperation within Multidisciplinary Team. Correct patients' selection for discharge on HFOT needs to be considered due to the limited FiO2 concentration delivery in the community.

DOI: 10.1164/ajrccm.2025.211.Abstracts.A4177

Improvement - Swan Suite for Relatives Ward 15/16 (2024)

Type of publication:

Service improvement case study

Author(s):

*Jules Lewis, *Rebekah Tudor

Citation:

SaTH Improvement Hub, September 2024

Abstract:

To improve the current relatives room & create a Swan suite on Ward 15/16 for relatives to allow staff to have open and honest conversations about end of life care. This will be achieved by September 2024. Official opening the room is planned for October 2024.

Link to PDF poster

Data Management in the Learning from Death Process (2023)

Type of publication:
Service improvement case study

Author(s):
*Fiona McAREE

Citation:
SaTH Improvement Hub, June 2023

Abstract:
The aim is to streamline the data source and improve reporting compliancy to Board by the end of March 2023 as evidenced by:
• MTG workbook
• SJR tracker
• Master divisional list of SJRs

Link to PDF poster

Improvement to issuing and returning of T-34 Syringe pumps (2022)

Type of publication:
Service improvement case study

Author(s):
*Kev Malton (EBME), *Ian Morris-Jones, *Jon Ashcroft, *Debbie Snooke

Citation:
SaTH Improvement Hub, 2022

Abstract:
It had been identified that delivery of T-34 Syringe pumps, used to provide analgesia for our end-of-life patients, were taking too long to be delivered out of hours, sometimes resulting in not being received in time to provide the care needed. Additionally, it had been identified that compliance in returning the pumps was extremely poor, resulting in lost, or unaccounted for pumps. This in turn resulted in additional costs in the region of £1500 per unit for Wards that had misplaced them. Following a series of improvements, including re-prioritising the Teletracking process, and updating the loans/returns process, a significant improvement was seen. Rather than taking hours to deliver the pumps, this has been reduced to approximately 5 minutes, and now all pumps on loan are returned, which has resulted in cost efficiency as well as increasing the stock held in Medical devices from 6 to 16.

Link to PDF poster [no password required]

Care after Death delivered in SaTH (2022)

Type of publication:Service improvement case study

Author(s):*Debbie Snooke Project Lead, Swan EOLC Specialist Nurse *Jules Lewis, Swan EOLC Facilitator & Lead Nurse *Miriam Gilbert, Swan EOLC Specialist Nurse

Citation:SaTH Improvement Hub, October 2022

Abstract:To improve care delivered to our patients after death, the Palliative and End of Life Care team created a training video, checklist and prompt to ensure that care is delivered in line with the Trust Care after Death Policy.

Link to PDF poster [no password required]

Fast Track Discharge (2023)

Type of publication:
Service improvement case study

Author(s):
*Rebecca Martin (Therapy Operational Manager for Inpatient Therapies PRH, ESD and Head of Occupational Therapy), *Dr Emma Corbett (Consultant in Palliative Medicine)/ *Ruth Walker (Macmillan Palliative Care Cancer Nurse Specialist)/ *Rachael Roebuck and *Jennifer Russell (Discharge Liaison Nurse)/ *Kate Robinson and *Jane Carter (Occupational Therapist)/ *Alison Jones (Nurse Specialist Palliative Care)

Citation:
SaTH Improvement Hub, January 2023

Abstract:
Opportunities for improvement were identified in the Fast Track patient pathway (patients with a life expectancy of 3 months or less). A pilot was carried out to understand if the availability of a dedicated EoLC Occupational Therapist improved patient discharge.

Link to PDF poster [no password required]

Making a difference to End of Life and Bereavement Care (2016)

Type of publication:
Post on the Academy of Fab NHS Stuff website

Author(s):
Jules Lewis

Citation:
Academy of Fab NHS Stuff (fabnhsstuff.net), February 2016

Abstract:
Death and dying is very difficult to deal with, even for staff who work in hospitals, but helping patients and their families at their time of greatest need is hugely important to us. It is a privilege to care for people at end of life and support their relatives/friends; we only have one chance to get it right.

The Trust has implemented the Swan Scheme to represent end of life and bereavement care. Following advice, support and permission from Fiona Murphy at the Royal Alliance Bereavement and Donor Service, a nurse-led innovation transforming practice across 3 large acute hospital trusts in the North West of England with the purpose of providing excellent end of life care for all.

Link to full-text