Palliative care aspects of wound healing in complex patients: a case report

Abstract

Symptom or palliative management for wound care has commonly been reported in the literature as being focused on end-of-life care with less emphasis on being an effective supportive option for any patient with a wound in whom symptom management is indicated. This case report describes a frail older patient with a hard-to-heal pressure injury and multiple comorbidities to highlight palliative symptom management as a viable option to enhance patient comfort. Wound care providers may consider a palliative approach for hard-to-heal wound management that incorporates the whole patient, family and/or caregiver when faced with management of a frail older adult with a hard-to-heal wound to enhance the relief of suffering and improve quality of life. All procedures were performed in compliance with relevant laws and institutional guidelines and the appropriate institutional committee has approved them. Declaration of interest: The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.