Signs and symptoms in wound management in palliative care

Abstract

More and more people die due to chronic diseases, leading to increasing demand and provision of palliative care. This type of assistance is intended to promote pain relief and other distressing symptoms and should include the investigations necessary for its better understanding and approach. It is important to consider the fact that wounds can be present in these processes and that the quality of life of a patient can be improved or at least kept by the control of the signs and symptoms. Thus, the objective of this work was to present and discuss relevant general aspects about signs and symptoms in the management of wounds in palliative care. It is a narrative literature review which covered the period between 1998 and 2018. The LILACS, SCIELO and PUBMED databases were used, using the following descriptors: wound healing; palliative care and symptoms. General aspects related to signs and symptoms in the management of wounds in palliative care were presented. A patient-centered approach and an effective program for the control of signs and symptoms of wounds in palliative care can present innumerable benefits to the patient, optimizing their functional status, quality of life and dignity in the face of terminality