The Sensation of Thirst in Dying Patients Receiving IV Hydration

Abstract

Cancer patients in the terminal phase of their disease often experience fluid deficits. This is mainly due to their inability to ingest adequate amounts of oral fluids to meet the body's physiological demands. In order to correct this deficit, intravenous (IV) fluid programs are often instituted. This pilot study was conducted on a group of terminal patients hospitalized in an oncology unit who died while receiving IV fluids. It sought to assess the effects of these fluids on their level of thirst. Data were collected on 30 patients in the last 24 hours of life. However, of the 30 patients only 19 were sufficiently alert to be able to verbally evaluate their thirst intensity. Of the 19 patients, six experienced mild thirst, eight moderate thirst, and four severe thirst. This was in spite of IV hydration regimens which ranged from 500 mL to 3000 mL. Little relationship was found between level of thirst and the amount of IV fluids received, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), or sodium blood levels. In addition, although 70% of the patients had fluid retention signs, there was little correlation between these signs and the amount of fluids received. Since the pilot study's sample was small, definitive conclusions could not be drawn. However, our results highlight the need for future research in this area.