Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Office of Vice-Chancellor for Global Strategies & International Affairs
International Human Capacity Development (IHCD)
Code : 9345-345047      Publish Date : Monday, February 16, 2015 Visit : 2274

Intl. Congress form | International Congress Report | International Congress Report For Faculty | 20th International Congress on Palliative Care

20th International Congress on Palliative Care
The report of 20th International Congress on Palliative Care By Dr. Mamak Tahmasebi
 
Application Code :
306-0214-0113
 
Created Date : Friday, November 21, 2014 11:53:14Update Date : Sunday, January 4, 2015 22:51:37IP Address :91.99.186.117
Submit Date : Sunday, January 4, 2015 22:52:05Email : mamaktahma@yahoo.com
Personal Information
Name : Mamak
Surname : Tahmasebi
School/Research center : Cancer Institute of I.R.Iran Cancer Research Center (CRC)
If you choose other, please name your Research center :  
Possition : Assistant professor
Tel : +98-21-61192530
Information of Congress
Title of the Congress : 20th International Congress on Palliative Care
Title of your Abstract : Indications for Albumin Infusion in Advanced Cancer Patients. A Clinical Audit in Iran
country : Canada
From : Tuesday, September 9, 2014
To : Friday, September 12, 2014
Abstract(Please copy/paste the abstract send to the congress) : BACKGROUND
Studies on cancer patients revealed that hypoalbuminemia normally does not appear at the early stages of cancer. However, in advanced and terminal stages of the disease low albumin level could be significant. It has been shown that hypoalbuminaemia is associated with poor prognosis in cancer, but albumin infusion had no beneficial effect on malnourished cancer patients. Accordingly, hypoalbuminemia predicts high mortality and morbidity in patients hospitalized in surgical cancer wards or Intensive Care Units(ICU), but no clinical trials reported that albumin infusion can affect the outcomes. There is also no evidence to support that concurrent albumin infusions has beneficial effect on patients with malignant ascites.
METHOD
To perform a retrospective observational study of the common causes of albumin infusion in cancer patients in a referral center in Iran we randomly selected 30 cancer patients who have received 20% albumin during the course of their treatments.
RESULTS
Our study demonstrated that hypoalbuminemia, cachexia-anorexia syndrome, and ascites were the main causes of administration of albumin (with or without parenteral nutrition) in advanced cancer patients in a Cancer Center in Iran. The patients, who were selected in this study, had been hospitalized in ICU, oncology and surgical-oncology wards. Mainly surgeons and oncologists prescribed albumin infusion.
CONCLUSIONS
Human albumin is an expensive solution and its availability is limited especially in developing countries. Prescription of albumin for cancer patients should be evidence-based and limited to a highly selected group of patients. Education of medical students and residents in different specialties regarding the indications and outcomes of albumin infusion should be a priority and could be the first step to prevent unnecessary prescription of this valuable blood product. 
Keywords of your Abstract : Cancer, Hypoalbuminemia, Albumin infusion
Acceptance Letter : http://gsia.tums.ac.ir/images/UserFiles/8021/Forms/306/acceptance_letter.pdf
The presentation : Poster
The Cover of Abstract book :
Published abstract in the abstract book with the related code :
Where has your abstract been indexed? : none
The Congress Reporting Form
How many volunteers were present at the Congress? : more than 1300
Delegates from which countries presented in the congress? : from 58 countries such as:United States, Singapore, United Kingdom, Australia, France, Brazil, Germany...
Were the delegates of any other organizations present in the congress? : No
If yes, please write the names of the organizations in the box :  
What were the responses to your talking points? Were specific questions or concerns raised? : I presented a poster based on Medical Futility. As this subject (cost- effectiveness) of any intervention is one of the most important things in all countries. Some specialists asked me about the cost of Albumin and also share their experiences.
If you met staff members, please list their full names & positions. : Ednin Hamzeh: Head of Palliative Care Department in Malaysia
Jennifer Philip: Deputy Medical Director of Palliative Care in St Vincent Hospital in Melbourne/Australia
Please inform us if there are any follow up actions we need to talk with the members of the congress : For improvement of palliative care in Iran, formal invitation of known Palliative Medicine specialists and international collaboration is necessary. Palliative Medicine is relatively new in Iran. Cancer and other life threatening diseases are rapidly increase in following years and improving of quality of life of patients should be one the health system priorities. Being familiar with other countries experiences would be very important.
Your experiences about the travel processes(Providing ticket, accommodation,...) : The process of obtaining visa, registration of tickets and finding an appropriate accommodation are time and energy consuming and the university should have run a system of managing the whole.
Please give a briefing of your own observations and outcomes of the congress: : Palliative Medicine like other branch of medicine moving forward. While former congresses focused on cancer in Canada most researches and talks were about palliative care in advanced renal and heart disease. Palliative care for children is almost new subject that unfortunately has completely neglected.
Different type of medications for relieving symptoms were introduced. Ethical challenges in end-stage patients are common in different countries that should be seriously noted. I think we need a new curriculum for medical students that palliative medicine topics are included.