Acute Medicine | Palliative care | Symptom management complicated by coexisting conditions

Session overview
Description
This session outlines some of the considerations to be taken into account when symptom management is complicated by coexisting conditions. This session outlines some of the considerations to be taken into account when symptom management is complicated by coexisting conditions.

This session was reviewed by Sarah Hanrott and last updated in October 2024.

Session introduction
Learning objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• outline the main causes of progressive respiratory, cardiac, hepatic and chronic renal failure, the key symptoms of each and the implications for end-of-life care
• describe some of the key problems of managing symptoms of more than one condition
• list some of the specific problems of drug management of symptoms with coexisting hepatic failure and renal failure in end-of-life care
• explore the communication issues that may arise for those patients who face dying from their co-existing condition rather than their expected life-threatening illness 

Introduction
Patients with 1 primary life-threatening disease may experience, at the same time, symptoms from other progressive conditions such as respiratory, cardiac or renal failure.

It is important that, as well as exploring a patient’s current illness, healthcare providers obtain a full medical history to enable each patient to be treated in a safe and rational way. It can also be useful to seek advice and support from colleagues in other disciplines when required.

This session outlines some of the considerations to be taken into account when symptom management is complicated by coexisting conditions.