Article Figures & Tables
Tables
- Table 1:
Suggested contents of a symptom management kit and recommended starting doses for patients with severe coronavirus disease 2019*
Symptom Treatment Recommended starting order Quantity for kit Pain or dyspnea Hydromorphone 2 mg/mL 0.5–1.0 mg subct q30min p.r.n.† 10 vials Nausea or delirium Haloperidol 5 mg/mL 1 mg subcut q2h p.r.n.‡ 10 vials Sedation Midazolam 5 mg/mL 1–2 mg subcut q15min p.r.n.§ 10 vials Secretions Scopolamine 0.4 mg/mL 0.4 mg subcut q4h p.r.n. 10 vials Fever Acetaminophen 650 mg suppositories Administer q6h PR p.r.n. 10 vials Urinary retention Foley catheter 16 French Insert catheter p.r.n. 1 kit Dry mouth Mouth swabs Mouth care q.i.d. and p.r.n. 10 swabs Note: PR = per rectum, p.r.n. = as needed, q4h = every 4 hours, q6h = every 6 hours, q15min = every 15 minutes, q30min = every 30 minutes, q.i.d. = 4 times per day, subct = subcutaneous.
↵* Adapted with permission from the Champlain Palliative Symptom Management Medication Order Form – Long-term Care.
↵† May start at 0.25 mg in a patient who is opioid naive, frail or older.
↵‡ Relative contraindication in Parkinson disease.
↵§ Higher doses can be used for refractory dyspnea.