Eduardo Bruera
brueraeduardo.bsky.social
Eduardo Bruera
@brueraeduardo.bsky.social
Chair, Department of Palliative, Rehabilitation and Integrative Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Home-based palliative care for 248 non-cancer patients (mean age 81) showed high comorbidity and severe functional impairment (46% PPS ≤30). Median stay was 50 days with >1 MD/RN visit / day. All died at home, underscoring need to expand public palliative care.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40971993/
Home-Based Palliative Care for Patients With Non-Cancer Diagnoses: Clinical Characteristics, Symptom Burden, and Service Delivery - PubMed
IntroductionPopulation aging has contributed to the increased prevalence of chronic non-communicable and disabling diseases, increasing the demand for home-based palliative care.ObjectiveTo describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and care profile of patients with non-cancer treated by a Home Care S …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 26, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Remote monitoring added to specialist palliative care led to greater early symptom and quality-of-life improvements than SPC alone in advanced cancer patients on phase I therapy. Benefits persisted to 12 weeks, suggesting RM may enhance SPC.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40986798/
Integration of Remote Monitoring Into Palliative Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer Undergoing Phase I Therapies: A Randomized Clinical Trial - PubMed
Incorporating RM into SPC may improve symptoms and HRQOL beyond SPC alone for patients with moderate-to-high symptom burden. Our findings are considered preliminary and larger confirmatory trials are needed.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
cdn.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/blobs/85...

Anyone can manufacture and use the Edmonton injector for SC meds. We made it for pts, not for profit!
November 25, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Among 432 patients with advanced cancer, only about one-third accurately understood their curability, with little improvement over time. Misperception was linked to Asian race and better reported well-being. Systematic screening may help identify needs

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40992638/
Systematic Screening of Advanced Cancer Patients' Curability Perception: A Longitudinal Analysis - PubMed
Only one in three patients with advanced cancer had an accurate understanding of their curability, with limited improvement over time. Systematic screening may provide opportunities to improve illness understanding and coping support.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Medical marijuana legalization influenced postoperative cancer pain management. States with dispensaries saw fewer strong-opioid prescriptions but more adverse hospital events, while early MML stages increased weak-opioid use.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41031641/
Medical marijuana policies, opioid prescriptions, and adverse events among patients undergoing cancer resection surgery - PubMed
MML policies may have affected the type of opioid prescribed and increased adverse hospital events among patients with cancer and resection surgery. Additional investigation of medical marijuana's impact on cancer pain management is warranted.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 24, 2025 at 11:46 AM
hematologists generally accepted most EOL quality measures but face unrealistic patient expectations and discomfort with GOC/ACP discussions. Many feel unprepared for these conversations. They support earlier palliative care and better home-care access.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41068303/
Understanding challenges and barriers to quality end-of-life care for patients with hematologic malignancies: a GIMEMA survey - PubMed
Patients with hematologic malignancies often receive aggressive end-of-life (EOL) care, which may be partly related to hematologists' discomfort with discontinuing aggressive treatments at EOL. It is therefore important to investigate how hematologists perceive EOL care and how this affects their cl …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 22, 2025 at 12:22 PM
In a pediatric palliative pts nebulised Tranexamic acid (TA) and nebulised Recombinant factor VIIa was used to manage haemoptysis near end-of-life. There was relief of bleeding and reduced distress, suggesting this combination may offer a palliative option.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41207344/
Use of Nebulized Tranexamic acid (TA) in combination with nebulized recombinant coagulation factor VIIa to treat hemoptysis in pediatric patients with cancer at end-of-life (EOL) - PubMed
Hemoptysis is a distressing symptom for both patients and families at end of life (EOL). In the acute care setting, this can be managed surgically or medically. However, research regarding interventions, such as nebulized tranexamic acid (TA) and nebulized factor VIIa, for palliative management of h …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Caregivers and nurses differed in preferred sedation goals for agitated delirium. Caregivers favored lighter sedation, nurses deeper. Patients were often undersedated. Vignettes showed deeper sedation preferred when communication impossible or prognosis short.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34432293/
Personalized sedation goal for agitated delirium in patients with cancer: Balancing comfort and communication - PubMed
In the last days of life, many patients with cancer develop delirium and become restless/agitated; this can be highly distressing. Caregivers and physicians alike are often concerned about the use of sedatives for agitated delirium and try to find a balance between maximizing comfort and maintaining …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 20, 2025 at 10:36 AM
Depression (60%) and anxiety (51%) were common in 1,221 new psychiatric oncology outpatients. Age and gender correlated with anxiety. ESAS cutoffs ≥3 (depression) and ≥5 (anxiety) showed good sensitivity for detecting symptoms using PHQ-9 and GAD-7.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34546618/
Frequency of anxiety and depression and screening performance of the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale in a psycho-oncology clinic - PubMed
Self-reported depression and anxiety are frequent symptoms among patients at a psychiatric oncology center for an initial visit. ESAS-A and ESAS-D have good sensitivity for anxiety and depression screening of cancer patients.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 20, 2025 at 10:32 AM
The Edmonton Injector for scheduled and PRN dosing. PRN wait times dropped from 18 to 3 minutes. The EI is safe, effective, inexpensive, great for resource-limited settings. After 35 years there is still no device to replace it, since ironically it is too cheap!

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2052383/
The Edmonton injector: a simple device for patient-controlled subcutaneous analgesia - PubMed
In a prospective open study we tested the Edmonton injector (EI), a device designed by our group for subcutaneous injection of narcotics. In 25 patients, the EI was used for patient-controlled analgesia (PCA); mean duration of treatment was 28 +/- 10 days. Mean equivalent daily dose of morphine was …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 19, 2025 at 10:27 AM
Three cancer patients with opioid use disorder (OUD) on buprenorphine were hospitalized for cancer pain. Primary clinicians managed complex needs, illustrating challenges and approaches to inpatient care for OUD in cancer.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39383025/
Managing Cancer Pain in Hospitalized Patients with Comorbid Opioid Use Disorder with Buprenorphine: A Case Series - PubMed
Data indicate that one in five patients with cancer might be at risk for nonmedical opioid use and its extreme form, opioid use disorder (OUD). Buprenorphine is one of the few medications available for the management of patients with co-occurring OUD and chronic pain. Care for these patients can be …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 19, 2025 at 10:14 AM
In this letter, the authors report on a small case-series using Levetiracetam for refractory confusional syndromes in palliative patients. They suggest it may offer a safe alternative when standard therapies fail, calling for further study.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39441578/
Letter to the Editor: Levetiracetam as an Alternative for Refractory Confusional Syndromes: A Case Series - PubMed
Letter to the Editor: Levetiracetam as an Alternative for Refractory Confusional Syndromes: A Case Series
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 16, 2025 at 6:41 AM
A patient with metastatic melanoma admitted to ICU and later to palliative care unexpectedly improved despite multiple death-predicting signs. The authors highlight that clinicians often misestimate survival, and call for better prognostic tools.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39478369/
Case report: Poor prognosis or poor prognostication? - PubMed
Physicians frequently overestimate or underestimate survival time which can be distressing to patients and families. There is need for further research to improve the accuracy of these tools for the sake of our patients and their families.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 16, 2025 at 6:39 AM
A study of 107 palliative patients showed that will to live (WtL) varies widely over time and correlates with all ESAS symptoms. WtL had links to total, physical, and psychological burden. Findings highlight suffering’s complexity and need for targeted care

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40739928/
Total suffering and will to live in persons with life-limiting diseases: Results from an Iberian multicenter study - PubMed
Evidence-based understanding of WtL is critical to improving care for patients who experience suffering toward end-of-life and their families. Further research is needed to inform and refine interventions targeting total suffering.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 14, 2025 at 6:17 AM
Non-cancer patients in Brazil’s home palliative care program were very old, highly frail, and often neurologically or circulatory impaired. Median stay was 50 days. With 1.74 clinical visits per day all died at home. Lower PPS scores required higher care intensity.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40971993/
Home-Based Palliative Care for Patients With Non-Cancer Diagnoses: Clinical Characteristics, Symptom Burden, and Service Delivery - PubMed
IntroductionPopulation aging has contributed to the increased prevalence of chronic non-communicable and disabling diseases, increasing the demand for home-based palliative care.ObjectiveTo describe the sociodemographic, clinical, and care profile of patients with non-cancer treated by a Home Care S …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 14, 2025 at 6:09 AM
In this pilot RCT of 100 advanced cancer patients on phase I therapies, adding weekly remote monitoring (RM) to monthly specialist palliative care (SPC) improved symptom burden and quality of life versus SPC alone, suggesting RM enhances SPC benefits.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40986798/
Integration of Remote Monitoring Into Palliative Care for Patients With Advanced Cancer Undergoing Phase I Therapies: A Randomized Clinical Trial - PubMed
Incorporating RM into SPC may improve symptoms and HRQOL beyond SPC alone for patients with moderate-to-high symptom burden. Our findings are considered preliminary and larger confirmatory trials are needed.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
A letter to the editor discusses use of Olanzapine in cancer-associated cachexia, reporting possible short-term improvements in weight/appetite but raising uncertainty about long-term efficacy, risks and optimal patient selection.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41213247/
Letter to the Editor: Olanzapine for Cachexia-Short-Term Benefit, Long-Term Questions - PubMed
Letter to the Editor: Olanzapine for Cachexia-Short-Term Benefit, Long-Term Questions
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 13, 2025 at 7:26 AM
A case series of two pediatric cancer patients at end of life showed that combining nebulized tranexamic acid and recombinant factor VIIa effectively relieved hemoptysis, suggesting this approach may reduce suffering and distress in palliative care settings.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41207344/
Use of Nebulized Tranexamic acid (TA) in combination with nebulized recombinant coagulation factor VIIa to treat hemoptysis in pediatric patients with cancer at end-of-life (EOL) - PubMed
Hemoptysis is a distressing symptom for both patients and families at end of life (EOL). In the acute care setting, this can be managed surgically or medically. However, research regarding interventions, such as nebulized tranexamic acid (TA) and nebulized factor VIIa, for palliative management of h …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 10, 2025 at 6:38 AM
a man with metastatic neuroendocrine tumour who appeared agitated on bilevel non-invasive ventilation — identified as delirium — but he felt suffocated by the mask ; high-flow nasal oxygen resolved the agitation. “delirium” can mask treatable distress.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40931622/
Not everything is delirium at the end of life: a case report - PubMed
In this report, we highlight the challenges faced by clinical teams diagnosing and managing delirium, in particular when a language barrier is present. Non-invasive bilevel ventilation is generally avoided in patients at the end of life (unless it offers comfort and it is aligned with the patient's …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 9, 2025 at 9:49 AM
In palliative care, physicians showed consistent survival estimates when “surprised” (>50% chance) but highly variable predictions when “not surprised.” Variability increased over longer timeframes, showing differing interpretations of “surprise” in prognosis.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40711595/
When would I be surprised? Variability in predicted probability of survival for being "surprised" and "not surprised" to the surprise question - PubMed
We found low variability for predicted probability of survival when clinicians were "surprised" but high variability when they were "not surprised."
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 9, 2025 at 9:42 AM
“timely palliative care” is systematic screening, referral criteria, automated triggers and refer oncology patients earlier to palliative care. It enhances access, resource efficiency and patient and caregiver outcomes with earlier specialist involvement.

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35205793/
Timely Palliative Care: Personalizing the Process of Referral - PubMed
Timely palliative care is a systematic process to identify patients with high supportive care needs and to refer these individuals to specialist palliative care in a timely manner based on standardized referral criteria. It requires four components: (1) routine screening of supportive care needs at …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 9, 2025 at 9:38 AM
The US administration has reduced resources for the National Library of Medicine and paralyzed government. Unfortunately I am unable to provide you our most recent publications. An alternative to Pubmed is needed for global medical knowledge.
November 8, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Survey of 52 palliative care fellowship graduates (84% response) found 52% burnout. Median age 38, 68% female, 77% practice PC >50%. Emotional exhaustion median 25.5. Burnout linked to female gender and administrative roles. Highlights need for prevention .

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35183705/
Frequency and Prediction of Burnout Among Physicians Who Completed Palliative Care Fellowship Training - A 10 Year Survey - PubMed
Burnout among former fellows trained in HPM between 2008 and 2018 is high. More research is needed to develop strategies to better prevent and manage burnout among HPM fellowship trained PC physicians.
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
November 8, 2025 at 11:11 AM