A 72-year-old woman with advanced heart failure and metastatic breast cancer is breathless at rest despite maximal disease-directed treatment. She is ...

Question

A 72-year-old woman with advanced heart failure and metastatic breast cancer is breathless at rest despite maximal disease-directed treatment. She is not a candidate for further invasive therapy. Which pharmacological approach is most appropriate for relief of refractory breathlessness at the end of life?

Accepted Answer

Low-dose oral or subcutaneous Morphine

Answer

High-dose benzodiazepines as sole therapy

Answer

Long-term high-flow oxygen in all cases

Answer

Nebulised Salbutamol alone

Answer

No pharmacological treatment is appropriate

uk-plab-1 MCQ (SBA): Breathlessness at end of life