Evaluation of Demographic, Clinical Characteristics and Laboratory Values of Pediatric Patients Followed in Palliative Care

Abstract

Background/Aims: The importance of pediatric palliative care centers, which we think is insufficient both in the world and in our country, is increasing. The aim of this study is to reveal the demographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics of pediatric patients followed in a palliative care center. Methods: In this retrospective study, demographic data (age, gender), laboratory findings (platelet, mean platelet volume, lymphocyte, neutrophil counts, glucose, sodium, potassium, urea) of pediatric patients followed up in an adult palliative care center between 18.10.2018 and 15.01.2023, creatinine, albumin and the C-reactive protein, CRP/albumin ratio, platelet/lymphocyte ratio and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio) and clinical features (length of stay in PCU and survival) were evaluated. Results: It was determined that 61 pediatric patients between the ages of 2-17 were followed up in the palliative care center between 18 October 2018 and 15 January 2023. 65.6% of the patients were male and 6.6% were Syrian citizens. The duration of stay in the palliative care center was between 1-64 days. While 16.4% of the patients had tracheostomy, 14.8% needed home mechanical ventilator. Only 3 (4.9%) patients received parenteral nutrition. The diagnosis of admission to the palliative care center of 47 (77.0%) patients included in the study had neurological sequelae after head trauma. The mortality rate was 1.6%. Conclusions: It is obvious that the centers are insufficient in the face of the increasing need for pediatric palliative care. Although adult palliative care centers are compensating for this deficiency at this stage, it is clearly seen that the number of pediatric palliative care centers should be increased in the future.