| Theme |
The management of the end of life in hemodialysis patients |
| Title |
Nutritional management during the terminal stage of life -- tube feeding and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy |
| Author |
Kou Kitabayashi |
Department of Nutrition, Shinkohkai Murakamikinen Hospital |
| [ Summary ] |
We examined nutritional management during the terminal stage of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Essentially, it is important to determine the need for nutritional support during the terminal stage of life, and a decision regarding this need may be guided by a patient's prognosis. However, a patient's decision is also an important criterion to determine the initiation of nutritional support. If a decision is made to initiate nutritional support, all modalities including percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy ought to be considered. |