ArticlePalliative care and social practice2026
Clinical profile and challenges of midazolam-based palliative sedation for terminal cancer patients: A retrospective observational study from a tertiary medical center in mainland China.
Article in Palliative care and social practice, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Background: Palliative sedation is a key component of palliative care for end-stage cancer patients with refractory symptoms. In mainland China, midazolam-based titrated palliative sedation is rarely used clinically, with limited data and studies reported. Aim: To illustrate the development of clinical practice patterns for midazolam-based palliative sedation in advanced cancer patients in mainland China, identify clinical regularities, and summarize clinical experience to promote the administration of palliative sedation for terminally ill cancer patients in mainland China. Design: A retrospective observational study was conducted using clinical records of terminal cancer patients who underwent midazolam-based palliative sedation from 2016 to 2025. Setting/participants: Terminal cancer patients who underwent palliative sedation in the oncology ward of Hangzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a tertiary medical center in Eastern mainland China. Results: The overall implementation rate of palliative sedation in terminal cancer patients was 7.98% (55/689). Refractory dyspnea was the primary indication for sedation (47.3%). The proportion of patients receiving adequate sedation was significantly higher in the titrated group than in the non-titrated group ( Conclusion: Effective communication of palliative sedation helps improve family members' acceptance of this therapy. Patients with refractory dyspnea, especially lung cancer patients with this symptom (who may have more severe underlying disease), may have shorter survival times than those with agitation or pain. Rigorous pre-procedural risk communication with families is recommended before sedation, and close monitoring and assessment during sedation are essential for safety.
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