PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:~I. To estimate the magnitude of electroencephalography (EEG) response to verbal stimuli among cancer patients in the last days in life admitted to a palliative and supportive care unit (PSCU).~II. To examine the feasibility of conducting EEG in cancer patients in the last days of life.~SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:~I. To compare the magnitude of EEG response between impending death cohort and control cohort.~II. To determine the association between the magnitude of EEG response and clinical assessments (e.g. JFK Coma Recovery Scale-Revised [CRS-R], Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS], Richmond Agitation Sedation Scale [RASS], Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale [MDAS]) in impending death cohort and control cohort separately.~III. To determine the magnitude of EEG response to pressure/noxious stimuli in impending death cohort and control cohort separately.~IV. To examine serial EEG changes in auditory cortex activation and cognitive processing in cancer patients over the last days of life.~OUTLINE:~Patients undergo EEG over 30 minutes daily until death or discharge and complete questionnaires over 30 minutes daily until death or discharge to check level of consciousness, thought, and ability to communicate.
This study investigates the use electroencephalography (EEG - a test that measures brain waves) to learn if patients who appear unresponsive (do not respond to noises, words, or touch) retain any consciousness. Families want to know if their loved ones who are unresponsive can still hear them or feel any discomfort. Information gained from this study may have important impact in how patients, caregivers, and doctors make decisions.