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Malignant psoas syndrome (MPS) is a rare condition resulting from malignant involvement of the psoas muscle. It is characterized by ipsilateral lumbosacral plexopathy and painful hip flexion and is often refractory to multiple therapeutic approaches. We report the case of a woman with MPS secondary to lymphadenopathy and a soft tissue mass caused by sigmoid adenocarcinoma.

Introduction:
Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has become established as a diagnostic and therapeutic support tool in multiple specialties. In palliative care, its usefulness has been described primarily in the hospital setting, with limited evidence in the home setting, where rapid decision-making and the avoidance of unnecessary transfers are particularly relevant.
Objective: To describe the clinical indications for clinical ultrasound in home-based palliative care, the sociodemographic and functional characteristics of the patients in whom it is used, and to analyze its impact on therapeutic management and hospital referrals.
Methods: This was an observational, descriptive, and multicenter study conducted in Home-Based Palliative Care Support Teams (ESAPD) in the Community of Madrid. Patients over 18 years of age with advanced cancer receiving home-based care were included, and clinical ultrasound was performed according to professional criteria. Sociodemographic variables, clinical variables (ICD-10, Palliative Performance Scale), type and location of ultrasound scan, findings, therapeutic changes, and hospital referrals were collected. The analysis was descriptive.

Results: 285 ultrasound scans were performed over a six-month period by 15 physicians from 6 Palliative Care Services (ESAPD). The mean age of the patients was 79.2 years (SD: 13.95), 52% were women, and the median Palliative Performance Scale score was 50. The most frequent scans were abdominal (43.5%) and thoracic (22.8%). Pathological findings were identified in 67% of the ultrasound scans. After the ultrasound scan, a change in therapeutic approach occurred in 62% of cases, and hospital referrals were avoided in 70%.

Conclusions: Clinical ultrasound in home-based palliative care is a feasible and useful tool, integrated into clinical practice, that helps reduce diagnostic uncertainty, optimize therapeutic decision-making, and avoid unnecessary hospital transfers, prioritizing patient comfort and quality of life.

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystem neurodegenerative disease that affects health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and emotional well-being. International evidence has highlighted the impact of non-motor symptoms—particularly anxiety and depression—as significant determinants of HRQoL. In Uruguay, researchers have not yet systematized data on these aspects. Although researchers have widely established the association with depression, they have studied anxiety and other factors less extensively. We aimed to describe HRQoL, determine the frequency of anxiety and depression symptoms, and analyze their relationship in patients with ALS treated at a national reference center. Patients and methods: We conducted a descriptive, correlational, observational, and cross-sectional study with prospective data collection between July 2023 and August 2024, involving 39 patients with a confirmed diagnosis according to the Gold Coast criteria. We assessed HRQoL using the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D-5L), functionality with the ALSFRS-R, and emotional symptoms with the HADS. Results:We found a median HRQoL of 0.76, lower than that of the general population. We observed a higher frequency of anxiety (56%) than depression (36%), with 33% of patients presenting mixed symptoms. Anxiety was more prevalent in patients with less than 6 months since diagnosis and in those with more than 12 months. HRQoL correlated positively with functionality and negatively with anxiety and depression; anxiety showed an inverse association with HRQoL (rs = −0.44; p < 0.005).Discussion:These findings reinforce the relevance of non-motor symptoms in the ALS experience and highlight the need for early psychological assessment and multidisciplinary interventions. Future studies should investigate the longitudinal progression of these factors throughout the disease course.

Introduction: The palliative approach to non-oncological diseases is a relevant aspect in achieving the quality of life of patients; etiologies such as heart failure (HF) should receive this management even from the moment of diagnosis. The present work aimed to describe the integration of palliative care (PC) in the care of patients with HF in Colombia during the first half of 2022. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional quantitative study was designed that consisted of surveying health professionals immersed in the care of patients with HF classified by territorial nodes. The survey was designed based on indicators that evaluated the integration of PC in HF care in the Colombian context, related to the provision and referral of PC, patient empowerment, family approach, home care, multidisciplinarity, knowledge and holistic care. Results and discussion: It was found, according to the reviewed literature, that PC is almost nonexistent in the early stages of HF. The difficulty in accessing health services in some regions of the country, combined with the lack of training for palliative care professionals, are the main findings of the study. Conclusions: A low level of integration of PCs in HF in Colombia was evident, which calls for strengthening research and care work in this regard.

Introduction: In recent decades, scientific and technological advances have contributed to a reduction in pediatric mortality, accompanied by an increase in children surviving severe illnesses with complex sequelae. Many of these situations require Pediatric Palliative Care Units to ensure comprehensive and continuous care. In Spain, approximately 2,500 children die each year and up to 25,000 may require specific pediatric palliative care resources.

Material and methods: Epidemiological, observational, and descriptive cohort study comparing healthcare costs before and after implementation of the ADPAP program, initiated on June 1, 2022. The sample included children enrolled in the program who were also followed by the Pediatric Palliative Care Unit of the Complejo Hospitalario Universitario de Canarias, with healthcare expenditure data available for one year before and one year after implementation.

Results: Of the 70 patients included in the program, 17 had comparable data for both periods. The comparison of total mean costs per patient showed a statistically significant reduction after implementation (t = 3.11; p = 0.0067), with an average saving of €9,170.68 per patient. This represents total savings of €155,901.57 in the analyzed cohort.

Conclusion: The implementation of the ADPAP program proved economically efficient, reducing healthcare costs associated with hospital and primary care services. In a hypothetical extrapolation to a cohort of 70 patients with similar characteristics, annual savings could exceed €600,000, although this estimate should be interpreted cautiously. These findings suggest that coordinated pediatric home care from Primary Care may improve healthcare system efficiency and continuity of care for children with complex chronic conditions, reducing avoidable hospitalizations and optimizing the use of hospital resources.

Introduction:
Population aging and the increasing burden of chronic diseases have led to a growing demand for comprehensive healthcare. Palliative Care (PC) has become an essential component in relieving physical, emotional, and social suffering in patients with advanced chronic illnesses. This study aimed to evaluate mortality in hospitalized patients with chronic diseases requiring Palliative Care and to analyze factors associated with referral to specialized PC services.
Materials and Methods:
An ambispective cohort study was conducted at the American British Cowdray Medical Center in Mexico City between July 2024 and March 2025. Adult patients hospitalized in the Internal Medicine service with advanced chronic diseases and positive NECPAL criteria were included. The primary outcome was mortality (in-hospital or out-of-hospital). The main exposure variable was referral to the Palliative Care team. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with referral and mortality.
Results:
A total of 65 patients were included; 32 (49.2%) received a Palliative Care consultation. No significant differences were observed in age, sex, comorbidity burden, or NECPAL score between patients with and without referral. Overall mortality was 60%, predominantly in-hospital. Referral to Palliative Care was not independently associated with mortality. Family request for Palliative Care was the only factor significantly associated with referral (OR 9.83; 95% CI 1.13–85.2; p=0.038). Only 11% of patients had an advance directive.
Conclusions:
Despite a high prevalence of palliative care needs among hospitalized patients with advanced chronic diseases, referral to specialized Palliative Care services remains limited and largely driven by family request rather than standardized clinical criteria. These findings highlight the need to strengthen systematic identification strategies and medical education to promote timely integration of Palliative Care.