The Easy Route: Distress Controlled in 10 Minutes
It is so easily inserted and gives an optimal route to administer meds when patients can’t swallow.
Pia’s Nursing Background
My name is Pia and I am currently working as a hospice nurse case manager in the San Francisco Bay area. I have worked with end-of-life in various settings and countries off and on since 1993.
The most important thing I want to tell other nurses is that they should not hesitate to use the Macy Catheter!
It is so easily inserted and gives an optimal route to administer meds when patients can’t swallow. You can make such a difference for both patients and families. I love it!
A Brain Tumor Presents a Complex Symptom Management Case
A middle-aged male with a brain tumor was unresponsive with terminal restlessness and severe pulmonary congestion. The patient was an MD and several family members and friends around the bedside were in the medical profession.
The patient’s doctor had told the family that due to the location of the tumor in the brainstem, nothing but IV morphine and Ativan would work for controlling symptoms.
The family was insisting that an IV be started and that morphine be administered as quickly as possible.
The Macy Catheter Requires No Wait Time
We explained to the family that we would order IV morphine and Ativan, but that it would take a while to initiate.
We explained that we could get the patient comfortable more quickly by administering medication rectally via the Macy Catheter.
The family agreed and the Macy Catheter was placed with ease. Morphine 20mg and Ativan 1mg were administered rectally.
Relief for the Patient and His Family
The patient’s symptoms were managed very rapidly– within 10 minutes.
The family was absolutely amazed at how well the catheter worked and they were very much relieved and grateful.
We never needed to start an IV and the patient died comfortably within 24 hours.
