Impact of palliative intervention on end-of-life outcomes for patients undergoing surgery for cancer.
SurgeryJul 16, 2026 (epub)
Clinical ResearchOncology (Medical)
Peter A Bryant, Caroline I Birdrow, Rameela Raman et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial examined the impact of early palliative care on end-of-life outcomes in 235 patients undergoing curative surgery for abdominal cancer. The study found no significant differences in mortality or other end-of-life measures between those receiving palliative care and those receiving usual care, with a hazard ratio for mortality of 1.14 (95% CI, 0.85-1.51; P = .39).
Key findings
- No significant difference in 3-year mortality between intervention and usual care groups (hazard ratio, 1.14; P = .39).
- No significant difference in receipt of chemotherapy in the last 2 weeks of life (odds ratio, 5.19; P = .14).
- No significant difference in hospice length of stay (odds ratio, 0.67; P = .38).
- No significant difference in Family Assessment of Treatment at End of Life scores (odds ratio, 0.81; P = .65).
Why it matters
The findings suggest that early palliative care may not improve end-of-life outcomes for patients undergoing curative surgery for cancer, indicating a need for careful allocation of palliative resources in this population.