The Role of Palliative Care in Pain Management for a Patient with Klippel-Trénaunay Syndrome: A Case Report

For patients with serious illness related to a rare condition, it is critical that symptoms are adequately assessed and treated in both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The involvement of a palliative care team can be beneficial in the management of physical and emotional stressors in these situations. This case report explores the role of a specialist palliative care team in the pain management of a patient hospitalized due to complications from Klippel-Trénaunay syndrome (KTS), a rare congenital vascular malformation syndrome associated with chronic pain. With the use of a comprehensive symptom assessment, the implementation of a patient-controlled analgesia demand-button, and the use of validated tools such as the ESAS (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System) and CAGE-AID (Cutdown, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye-opener, Adapted to Include Drugs) screening, the patient achieved improved pain control, functionality, and overall well-being. This case highlights the importance of integrating palliative care in the management of complex diseases such as KTS.