Emergency Cases Northwest Group

008 Steroids Good

Situation

A palliative brain tumour patient had a severe headache. He needed dexamethasone for the pain.

Background

A 64 year old man had a worsening headache. Known terminal glioblastoma. ICH, infection excluded by CT. He had already tried standard analgesia from his GP. Specialist advice was commence dexamethasone rather than potent opiates.

Assessment

Steroids were more likely to benefit the patient as they reduce the cerebral oedema component of the pain.

Recommendation

Analgesic ladder in patients with brain tumours should include steroids not just opiates.

PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ANY PATIENT IDENTIFIABLE DATA OR GEO-LOCATION DATA IN THE SUBMISSION OR IN ANY ATTACHED IMAGES

Emergency Cases Northwest Group