Patients with cancer in the intensive monitoring unit. New perspectives

I Prieto Del Portillo; M Polo Zarzuela; I Pujol Varela

doi:10.1016/j.rce.2014.03.005

Patients with cancer in the intensive monitoring unit. New perspectives

Rev Clin Esp (Barc). 2014 Oct;214(7):403-9. doi: 10.1016/j.rce.2014.03.005. Epub 2014 Apr 26.

[Article in English, Spanish]

Authors

I Prieto Del Portillo¹, M Polo Zarzuela², I Pujol Varela³

Affiliations

¹ Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, España. Electronic address: iprieto.hrc@salud.madrid.org.
² Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, España.
³ Servicio de Medicina Intensiva, Hospital MD Anderson, Madrid, España.

PMID: 24776089
DOI: 10.1016/j.rce.2014.03.005

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a significant improvement in the survival of patients with cancer in intensive care units (ICUs). Advances in medical and surgical treatments and better selection of patients has helped improve the life expectancy of this type of patient. An appropriate and early resuscitation in the ICU, without initial limitations on the life support techniques, has been shown to also decrease the mortality of patients with cancer. At present, we should not deny admission to the ICU based only on the underlying neoplastic disease. However, the mortality rate for patients with cancer in the ICU, especially those with hematologic disease, remains high. In some cases, an ICU admission test (ICU test) is required for at least 3 days to identify patients who can benefit from intensive treatment. We would like to propose a decision algorithm for ICU admission that will help in making decisions in an often complex situation.

Keywords: Cancer; Cáncer; Fallo orgánico; Intensive care units test; Mechanical ventilation; Neutropenia; Organ failure; Test de Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos; Ventilación mecánica.