The Intensive Care Medicine research agenda on critically ill oncology and hematology patients

A Need for a Novel Survival Risk Scoring System for Intensive Care Admissions Due to Sepsis in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Patients

Background: Children with hemato-oncological diseases or following stem cell transplantation (SCT) are at high risk for life-threatening infections; sepsis in this population constitutes a substantial proportion of pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) admissions. The current pediatric prognostic scoring tools to evaluate illness severity and mortality risk are designed for the general pediatric population and may not be adequate for this vulnerable subpopulation. Methods: Retrospective analysis was performed on all PICU admissions for sepsis in children with hemato-oncological diseases or post-SCT, in a single tertiary pediatric hospital between 2008 and 2021 (n = 233). We collected and analyzed demographic, clinical, and laboratory data and outcomes for all patients, and evaluated the accuracy of two major prognostic scoring tools, the Pediatric Logistic Organ Dysfunction-2 (PELOD-2) and the Pediatric Risk of Mortality III (PRISM III). Furthermore, we created a new risk-assessment model that contains additional parameters uniquely relevant to this population. Results: The survival rate for the cohort was 83%. The predictive accuracies of PELOD-2 and PRISM III, as determined by the area under the curve (AUC), were 83% and 78%, respectively. Nine new parameters were identified as clinically significant: age, SCT, viral infection, fungal infection, central venous line removal, vasoactive inotropic score, bilirubin level, C-reactive protein level, and prolonged neutropenia. Unique scoring systems were established by the integration of these new parameters into the algorithm; the new systems significantly improved their predictive accuracy to 91% (p = 0.01) and 89% (p < 0.001), respectively. Conclusions: The predictive accuracies (AUC) of the PELOD-2 and PRISM III scores are limited in children with hemato-oncological diseases admitted to PICU with sepsis. These results highlight the need to develop a risk-assessment tool adjusted to this special population. Such new scoring should represent their unique characteristics including their degree of immunosuppression and be validated in a large multi-center prospective study.

Characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients admitted to intensive care units in cancer specialized hospitals in China

PURPOSE

Standard intensive care unit (ICU) admission policies and treatment strategies for patients with cancer are still lacking. To depict the current status of admission, characteristics, and outcomes of patients with cancer in the ICU.

METHODS

A multicenter cross-sectional study was performed from May 10, 2021 to July 10, 2021, in the ICU departments of 37 cancer-specialized hospitals in China. Clinical records of all admitted patients aged ≥ 14 years and ICU duration > 24 h with complete data were included. Demographic information, clinical history, severity score at admission, ICU critical condition diagnosis and treatment, ICU and in-hospital outcomes and 90 days survival were also collected. A total of 1455 patients were admitted and stayed for longer than 24 h. The most common primary cancer diagnoses included lung, colorectal, esophageal, and gastric cancer.

RESULTS

Patients with lung cancer were admitted more often because of worsening complications that occurred in the clinical ward. However, other cancer patients may be more likely to be admitted to the ICU because of postoperative care. ICU-admitted patients with lung or esophageal cancer tended to have more ICU complications. Patients with lung cancer had a poor overall survival prognosis, whereas patients with colorectal cancer appeared to benefit the most according to 90 days mortality rates.

CONCLUSION

Patients with lung cancer require more ICU care due to critical complications and the overall survival prognosis is poor. Colorectal cancer may benefit more from ICU management. This information may be considered in ICU admission and treatment strategies.

Outcomes of Acute Respiratory Failure in Patients With Cancer in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To determine the epidemiological effect-magnitude and outcomes of patients with cancer vs those without cancer who are hospitalized with acute respiratory failure (ARF).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed hospitalizations within the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database between January 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018. Patients were classified based on a diagnosis of solid-organ cancer, hematologic cancer, or no cancer. Noninvasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) failure was defined as patients who initially received NIPPV and had progression to invasive mechanical ventilation. Weighted samples were used to derive population estimates.

RESULTS

During the study period, there were an estimated 8,837,209 admissions with ARF in the United States, 8.9% (783,625) of which had solid-organ cancer and 2.0% (176,095) had hematologic cancers. Annually, 319,907 patients with cancer are admitted with ARF, with 27.3% (87,302) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation and 10.0% (31,998) requiring NIPPV. In-hospital mortality was higher in patients with cancer vs those without cancer (24.0% [76,813] vs 12.3% [322,465]; P<.001), and this proprotion persisted when stratified by the highest method of oxygen delivery. Patients with cancer had longer hospital length of stay (7.0 days [3.0 to 12.0 days] vs 5.0 days [3.0 to 10.0 days]; P<.001) and were more likely to have NIPPV failure (14.9% [3,992] vs 12.8% [41,875]). Compared with those with solid-organ cancer, patients with hematologic cancers experienced worse outcomes. The association between underlying cancer diagnosis and outcomes remained consistent when adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

In the United States, patients with cancer account for over 10% of ARF hospital admissions (959,720 of 8,837,209). They experience an approximately 2-fold higher mortality versus those without cancer. Those with hematologic cancers appear to experience worse outcomes than patients with solid-organ cancers.

Risk factors and predictive model for mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation admitted to the intensive care unit

Hematological malignant tumors represent a group of major diseases carrying a substantial risk to the lives of affected patients. Risk factors for mortality in critically ill patients have garnered substantial attention in recent research endeavors. The present research aimed to identify factors predicting intensive care unit (ICU) mortality in patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT). Furthermore, the present study analyzed and compared the mortality rate between patients undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (Haplo-SCT) and those undergoing identical sibling donor (ISD) transplantation. A total of 108 patients were included in the present research, 83 (76.9%) of whom underwent Haplo-SCT. ICU mortality was reported in 58 (53.7%) patients, with the values of 55.4 and 48.0% associated with Haplo-SCT and ISD, respectively (P=0.514). The mortality rate of patients undergoing Haplo-SCT was comparable to that of patients undergoing ISD transplantation. The present study found that reduced hemoglobin, elevated total bilirubin, elevated brain natriuretic peptide, elevated fibrinogen degradation products, need for vasoactive drugs at ICU admission, need for invasive mechanical ventilation and elevated APACHE II scores were independent risk factors for ICU mortality. Among patients presenting with 5-7 risk factors, the ICU mortality reached 100%, significantly exceeding that of other patients. The present research revealed that ICU mortality rates remain elevated among patients who underwent allo-HSCT, especially those presenting multiple risk factors. However, the outcome of patients undergoing Haplo-SCT were comparable to those of patients undergoing ISD transplants.

Outcome of Cancer Patients with an Unplanned Intensive Care Unit Admission: Predictors of Mortality and Long-term Survival

Background

Understanding the characteristics and outcomes of cancer patients with unplanned ICU admission is imperative for therapeutic decisions and prognostication purposes.

Objective

To describe the clinical characteristics of patients with hematological and non-hematological malignancies (NHM) who require unplanned ICU admission and to determine the predictors of mortality and long-term survival.

Methods

This retrospective study included all patients with cancer who had an unplanned ICU admission between 2011 and 2016 at a tertiary hospital in Saudi Arabia. The following variables were collected: age, gender, ICU length of stay (LOS), APACHE II score, type of malignancy, febrile neutropenia, source and time of admission, and need for mechanical ventilation (MV), renal replacement therapy (RRT), and treatment with vasopressors (VP). Predictors of mortality and survival rates at 28 days and 3, 6, and 12 months were calculated.

Results

The study included 410 cancer patients with 466 unplanned ICU admissions. Of these, 52% had NHM. The average LOS in the ICU was 9.6 days and the mean APACHE score was 21.9. MV was needed in 73% of the patients, RRT in 15%, and VP in 24%, while febrile neutropenia was present in 24%. There were statistically significant differences between survivors and non-survivors in the APACHE II score (17.7 ± 8.0 vs. 25.6 ± 9.2), MV use (52% vs. 92%), need for RRT (6% vs. 23%), VP use (42% vs. 85%), and presence of febrile neutropenia (18% vs. 30%). The predictors of mortality were need for MV (OR = 4.97), VP (OR = 3.43), RRT (OR = 3.31), and APACHE II score (OR = 1.10). Survival rates at 28 days, 3, 6, and 12 months were 52%, 28%, 22%, and 15%, respectively.

Conclusion

The survival rate of cancer patients with an unplanned admission to the ICU remains low. Predictors of mortality include need for MV, RRT, and VP and presence of febrile neutropenia. About 85% of cancer patients died within 1 year after ICU admission.

How I manage acute respiratory failure in patients with hematological malignancies

ABSTRACT

Acute respiratory failure (ARF) is common in patients with hematological malignancies notably those with acute leukemia, myelodysplastic syndrome, or allogeneic stem cell transplantation. ARF is the leading reason for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, with a 35% case fatality rate. Failure to identify the ARF cause is associated with mortality. A prompt, well-designed diagnostic workup is crucial. The investigations are chosen according to pretest diagnostic probabilities, estimated by the DIRECT approach: D stands for delay, or time since diagnosis; I for pattern of immune deficiency; R and T for radiological evaluation; E refers to clinical experience, and C to the clinical picture. Thorough familiarity with rapid diagnostic tests helps to decrease the use of bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage, which can cause respiratory status deterioration in those patients with hypoxemia. A prompt etiological diagnosis shortens the time on unnecessary empirical treatments, decreasing iatrogenic harm and costs. High-quality collaboration between intensivists and hematologists and all crossdisciplinary health care workers is paramount. All oxygen delivery systems should be considered to minimize invasive mechanical ventilation. Treatment of the malignancy is started or continued in the ICU under the guidance of the hematologists. The goal is to use the ICU as a bridge to recovery, with the patient returning to the hematology ward in sufficiently good clinical condition to receive optimal anticancer treatment.

How Does Health-Related Quality of Life Change Over Time in Cancer Survivors Following an Admission to the Intensive Care Unit?: An Integrative Review

BACKGROUND

Cancer survivors account for 15% to 20% of all intensive care unit (ICU) admissions. In general ICU populations, patients are known to experience reduced health-related quality of life (HRQoL). However, little is known about HRQoL impacts among cancer survivors following a critical illness in ICU.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to critically synthesize the evidence to further understand the impact of a critical illness and ICU admission in cancer survivors.

METHODS

An integrative review was conducted and reported according to the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analysis) guidelines. Three electronic databases were searched (MEDLINE, CINAHL, and EMBASE) using keywords and Boolean logic. Quality appraisal, data extraction, and a narrative synthesis were completed for all included studies by 2 reviewers.

RESULTS

Eleven publications met inclusion criteria. Health-related quality-of-life domains most frequently reported in cancer survivors after discharge from ICU included the following: physical function limitations, physical symptoms, and anxiety/depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Health-related quality of life decreased immediately after the admission to ICU with a gradual increase in the 3 to 12 months following. Cancer survivors are vulnerable to physical limitations, pain, and social isolation after an admission to ICU.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Cancer survivors who have been affected by a critical illness are at risk of reduced HRQoL after an admission to ICU. This integrative review will help clinicians and researchers to develop patient-centered models of care during the recovery of critical illness, which are currently lacking in service delivery.

Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine and Indian Association of Palliative Care Expert Consensus and Position Statements for End-of-life and Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit

End-of-life care (EOLC) exemplifies the joint mission of intensive and palliative care (PC) in their human-centeredness. The explosion of technological advances in medicine must be balanced with the culture of holistic care. Inevitably, it brings together the science and the art of medicine in their full expression. High-quality EOLC in the ICU is grounded in evidence, ethical principles, and professionalism within the framework of the Law. Expert professional statements over the last two decades in India were developed while the law was evolving. Recent landmark Supreme Court judgments have necessitated a review of the clinical pathway for EOLC outlined in the previous statements. Much empirical and interventional evidence has accumulated since the position statement in 2014. This iteration of the joint Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine-Indian Association of Palliative Care (ISCCM-IAPC) Position Statement for EOLC combines contemporary evidence, ethics, and law for decision support by the bedside in Indian ICUs.

How to cite this article

Mani RK, Bhatnagar S, Butola S, Gursahani R, Mehta D, Simha S, et al. Indian Society of Critical Care Medicine and Indian Association of Palliative Care Expert Consensus and Position Statements for End-of-life and Palliative Care in the Intensive Care Unit. Indian J Crit Care Med 2024;28(3):200-250.

ICU-acquired infections in immunocompromised patients

Immunocompromised patients account for an increasing proportion of the typical intensive care unit (ICU) case-mix. Because of the increased availability of new drugs for cancer and auto-immune diseases, and improvement in the care of the most severely immunocompromised ICU patients (including those with hematologic malignancies), critically ill immunocompromised patients form a highly heterogeneous patient population. Furthermore, a large number of ICU patients with no apparent immunosuppression also harbor underlying conditions altering their immune response, or develop ICU-acquired immune deficiencies as a result of sepsis, trauma or major surgery. While infections are associated with significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised critically ill patients, little specific data are available on the incidence, microbiology, management and outcomes of ICU-acquired infections in this population. As a result, immunocompromised patients are usually excluded from trials and guidelines on the management of ICU-acquired infections. The most common ICU-acquired infections in immunocompromised patients are ventilator-associated lower respiratory tract infections (which include ventilator-associated pneumonia and tracheobronchitis) and bloodstream infections. Recently, several large observational studies have shed light on some of the epidemiological specificities of these infections-as well as on the dynamics of colonization and infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria-in these patients, and these will be discussed in this review. Immunocompromised patients are also at higher risk than non-immunocompromised hosts of fungal and viral infections, and the diagnostic and therapeutic management of these infections will be covered. Finally, we will suggest some important areas of future investigation.

Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay to Detect Nasopharyngeal Viruses in Immunocompromised Patients With Acute Respiratory Failure

BACKGROUND

In immunocompromised patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF), the clinical significance of respiratory virus detection in the nasopharynx remains uncertain.

RESEARCH QUESTION

Is viral detection in nasopharyngeal swabs associated with causes and outcomes of ARF in immunocompromised patients?

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

This preplanned post hoc analysis of a randomized controlled trial enrolled immunocompromised patients admitted to 32 ICUs for ARF between May 2016 and December 2017. Nasopharyngeal swabs sampled at inclusion were assessed for 23 respiratory pathogens using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Causes of ARF were established by managing physicians and were reviewed by three expert investigators masked to the multiplex PCR assay results. Associations between virus detection in nasopharyngeal swabs, causes of ARF, and composite outcome of day 28 mortality, invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV), or both were assessed.

RESULTS

Among the 510 sampled patients, the multiplex PCR assay results were positive in 103 patients (20.2%), and a virus was detected in 102 samples: rhinoviruses or enteroviruses in 35.5%, coronaviruses in 10.9%, and flu-like viruses (influenza virus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus) in 52.7%. The cause of ARF varied significantly according to the results of the multiplex PCR assay, especially the proportion of viral pneumonia: 50.0% with flu-like viruses, 14.0% with other viruses, and 3.6% when no virus was detected (P < .001). No difference was found in the composite outcome of day 28 mortality, IMV, or both according to positive assay findings (54.9% vs 54.7%; P = .965). In a pre-established subgroup analysis, flu-like virus detection was associated with a higher rate of day 28 mortality, IMV, or both among recipients of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation compared with those without detected virus.

INTERPRETATION

In immunocompromised patients with ARF, the results of nasopharyngeal multiplex PCR assays are not associated with IMV or mortality. A final diagnosis of viral pneumonia is retained in one-third of patients with positive assay results and in one-half of the patients with a flu-like virus.

Prognostic factors in oncological patients with solid tumours requiring intensive care unit admission

The aim of the present study was to identify factors predicting in-hospital mortality in patients with cancer admitted to a medical Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to evaluate their functional status and survival during follow-up at the oncology service in the initial 12 months after hospital discharge. A retrospective observational study was performed on 129 consecutive oncological patients with solid tumours admitted to the medical ICU of the Hospital del Mar (Barcelona, Spain) between January 2016 and June 2018. Demographics, and clinical data in-ICU and in-hospital mortality were recorded. Post-hospital discharge follow-up was also carried out. ICU and hospital mortality rates were 24% (n=31) and 40.3% (n=52), respectively. Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.01-1.42; P=0.037), neutropenia on admission (HR, 8.53; 95% CI, 2.15-33.82; P=0.002), metastatic disease (HR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.82-8.45; P<0.001), need for invasive mechanical ventilation (HR, 5.78; 95% CI, 1.61-20.73; P=0.007), surgery during hospital admission (HR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.09-0.61; P=0.003) and ICU stay (>48 h) (HR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-0.29; P<0.001) were the independent risk factors for ICU mortality. Overall, 59.5% of the survivors had good functional status at hospital discharge and 28.7% of patients with cancer admitted to the ICU were alive 1 year after hospital discharge, most of them (85.7%) with good functional status (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group 0-1). In conclusion, hospital mortality may be associated with SOFA score at ICU admission, the need for invasive mechanical ventilation, neutropenia and metastatic disease. Only 40% of patients with oncological disease admitted to the ICU died during their hospital stay, and >50% of the survivors presented good functional status at hospital discharge. Notably, 1 year after hospital discharge, 28.7% of patients were alive, most of them with a good functional status.

Outcome and factors associated with mortality in patients receiving urgent chemotherapy in the ICU: A retrospective study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to assess the outcome and factors associated with mortality in patients who received urgent chemotherapy (CT) in the intensive care unit (ICU) in Lyon, France.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A total of 147 adult patients diagnosed with cancer and requiring urgent CT during ICU stay between October 2014 and December 2019 were included in this retrospective study.

RESULTS

Hematological cancer was found in 77% of patients, and acute respiratory failure was the leading cause of ICU admission (46.3%). The 6-month mortality rate was 69.4%; patients with solid cancer had a higher risk of mortality. Patients who died within 6 months had a poor performance score and a higher SOFA score at admission. The multivariate analysis showed that solid tumors, sepsis on the day of CT, and SOFA score on the day of CT were associated with 6-month mortality. Additionally, 95% of patients who survived the ICU resumed conventional CT, with a higher likelihood of resuming CT among those with hematological cancer.

CONCLUSION

Urgent CT in the ICU is feasible in a specific subset of patients, mainly those with hematological cancer, with resumption of the curative treatment regimen after ICU discharge.

Characteristics, management, and outcomes of active cancer patients with cardiogenic shock

AIMS

Characteristics, management, and outcomes of patients with active cancer admitted for cardiogenic shock remain largely unknown. This study aimed to address this issue and identify the determinants of 30-day and 1-year mortality in a large cardiogenic shock cohort of all aetiologies.

METHODS AND RESULTS

FRENSHOCK is a prospective multicenter observational registry conducted in French critical care units between April and October 2016. 'Active cancer' was defined as a malignancy diagnosed within the previous weeks with planned or ongoing anticancer therapy. Among the 772 enrolled patients (mean age 65.7 ± 14.9 years; 71.5% male), 51 (6.6%) had active cancer. Among them, the main cancer types were solid cancers (60.8%), and hematological malignancies (27.5%). Solid cancers were mainly urogenital (21.6%), gastrointestinal (15.7%), and lung cancer (9.8%). Medical history, clinical presentation, and baseline echocardiography were almost the same between groups. In-hospital management significantly differed: patients with cancers received more catecholamines or inotropes (norepinephrine 72% vs. 52%, P = 0.005 and norepinephrine-dobutamine combination 64.7% vs. 44.5%, P = 0.005), but had less mechanical circulatory support (5.9% vs. 19.5%, P = 0.016). They presented a similar 30-day mortality rate (29% vs. 26%) but a significantly higher mortality at 1-year (70.6% vs. 45.2%, P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, active cancer was not associated with 30-day mortality but was significantly associated with 1-year mortality in 30-day survivors [HR 3.61 (1.29-10.11), P = 0.015].

CONCLUSION

Active cancer patients accounted for almost 7% of all cases of cardiogenic shock. Early mortality was the same regardless of active cancer or not, whereas long-term mortality was significantly increased in patients with active cancer.

Temporal trends and barriers for inpatient palliative care referral in metastatic gynecologic cancer patients receiving specific critical care therapies

Objective

Existing evidence suggests that palliative care (PC) is highly underutilized in metastatic gynecologic cancer (mGCa). This study aims to explore temporal trends and predictors for inpatient PC referral in mGCa patients who received specific critical care therapies (CCT).

Methods

The National Inpatient Sample from 2003 to 2015 was used to identify mGCa patients receiving CCT. Basic characteristics were compared between patients with and without PC. Annual percentage change (APC) was estimated to reflect the temporal trend in the entire cohort and subgroups. Multivariable logistic regression was employed to explore potential predictors of inpatient PC referral.

Results

In total, 122,981 mGCa patients were identified, of whom 10,380 received CCT. Among these, 1,208 (11.64%) received inpatient PC. Overall, the rate of PC referral increased from 1.81% in 2003 to 26.30% in 2015 (APC: 29.08%). A higher increase in PC usage was found in white patients (APC: 30.81%), medium-sized hospitals (APC: 31.43%), the Midwest region (APC: 33.84%), and among patients with ovarian cancer (APC: 31.35%). Multivariable analysis suggested that medium bedsize, large bedsize, Midwest region, West region, uterine cancer and cervical cancer were related to increased PC use, while metastatic sites from lymph nodes and genital organs were related to lower PC referral.

Conclusion

Further studies are warranted to better illustrate the barriers for PC and finally improve the delivery of optimal end-of-life care for mGCa patients who receive inpatient CCT, especially for those diagnosed with ovarian cancer or admitted to small scale and Northeast hospitals.

Sepsis and acute respiratory failure in patients with cancer: how can we improve care and outcomes even further?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Care and outcomes of critically ill patients with cancer have improved over the past decade. This selective review will discuss recent updates in sepsis and acute respiratory failure among patients with cancer, with particular focus on important opportunities to improve outcomes further through attention to phenotyping, predictive analytics, and improved outcome measures.

RECENT FINDINGS

The prevalence of cancer diagnoses in intensive care units (ICUs) is nontrivial and increasing. Sepsis and acute respiratory failure remain the most common critical illness syndromes affecting these patients, although other complications are also frequent. Recent research in oncologic sepsis has described outcome variation - including ICU, hospital, and 28-day mortality - across different types of cancer (e.g., solid vs. hematologic malignancies) and different sepsis definitions (e.g., Sepsis-3 vs. prior definitions). Research in acute respiratory failure in oncology patients has highlighted continued uncertainty in the value of diagnostic bronchoscopy for some patients and in the optimal respiratory support strategy. For both of these syndromes, specific challenges include multifactorial heterogeneity (e.g. in etiology and/or underlying cancer), delayed recognition of clinical deterioration, and complex outcomes measurement.

SUMMARY

Improving outcomes in oncologic critical care requires attention to the heterogeneity of cancer diagnoses, timely recognition and management of critical illness, and defining appropriate ICU outcomes.

Evaluation of factors predicting the benefit from systemic oncological treatment for severely ill hospitalized patients: a retrospective study

BACKGROUND

Patients with cancer in the disease's end-stage with poor performance represent a challenging clinical scenario, as they have high chance of a fatal outcome due to clinical conditions, oncological emergencies, and/or metastatic disease. This study examines the factors predicting the potential benefit of "urgent" chemotherapy during hospitalization in this setting, thus addressing a research gap.

METHODS

This retrospective observational study was conducted in the largest cancer center in the outskirts of São Paulo. It identified factors predicting the benefit from antineoplastic treatment in severe in-hospital patients admitted during 2019-2020, considering post-chemotherapy survival time as the main dependent variable. Data were retrieved from medical records. All patients aged ≥ 18 years, with an ECOG-PS score ≥ 2, and undergoing non-elective systemic cancer treatment were included.

RESULTS

This study evaluated 204 records, of which 89 were included in the final analysis. A statistically significant association with the worse outcome (death within 30 days of chemotherapy) was found with higher ECOG performance status; chemotherapy dose reduction; lower values of serum albumin, hemoglobin, and creatinine clearance; and higher values of leukocytes, neutrophils, direct bilirubin, urea, and C-reactive protein. In the multivariate analysis, only albumin remained statistically associated with the outcome (hazard ratio = 0.35; confidence interval: 0.14, 0.90; p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Serum albumin and other clinical and laboratory variables might be associated with early post-treatment deaths in patients with cancer. The study data might help guide the decision to administer systemic treatment in this scenario and manage critically ill patients. This study adds to our knowledge of the factors predicting the objective benefits from "heroic" or "urgent" chemotherapy for hospitalized and severely ill patients with cancer.

Long-term immunosuppressive treatment is not associated with worse outcome in patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit for septic shock: the PACIFIC study

BACKGROUND

Except in a few retrospective studies mainly including patients under chemotherapy, information regarding the impact of immunosuppressive therapy on the prognosis of patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) for septic shock is scarce. Accordingly, the PACIFIC study aimed to asses if immunosuppressive therapy is associated with an increased mortality in patients admitted to the ICU for septic shock.

METHODS

This was a retrospective epidemiological multicentre study. Eight high enroller centres in septic shock randomised controlled trials (RCTs) participated in the study. Patients in the "exposed" group were selected from the screen failure logs of seven recent RCTs and excluded because of immunosuppressive treatment. The "non-exposed" patients were those included in the placebo arm of the same RCTs. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to estimate the risk of death.

RESULTS

Among the 433 patients enrolled, 103 were included in the "exposed" group and 330 in the "non-exposed" group. Reason for immunosuppressive therapy included organ transplantation (n = 45 [44%]) or systemic disease (n = 58 [56%]). ICU mortality rate was 24% in the "exposed" group and 25% in the "non-exposed" group (p = 0.9). Neither in univariate nor in multivariate analysis immunosuppressive therapy was associated with a higher ICU mortality (OR: 0.95; [95% CI 0.56-1.58]: p =  0.86 and 1.13 [95% CI 0.61-2.05]: p =  0.69, respectively) or 3-month mortality (OR: 1.13; [95% CI 0.69-1.82]: p =  0.62 and OR: 1.36 [95% CI 0.78-2.37]: p =  0.28, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, long-term immunosuppressive therapy excluding chemotherapy was not associated with significantly higher or lower ICU and 3-month mortality in patients admitted to the ICU for septic shock.

[Invasive mechanical ventilation in patients with solid tumor or hematological malignancy]

Invasive mechanical ventilation in onco-hematology patients has become relatively routine, and is now part and parcel of their care pathway. Nevertheless, specific complications and subsequent therapeutic possibilities require discussion. To a greater extent than with regard to other patient populations, cooperation between specialist and ICU physician is mandatory, the objective being to more comprehensively assess a therapeutic project before or during the period of invasive mechanical ventilation. After an overview of recent results concerning ventilated patients in intensive care, this review aims to describe the specific complications and factors associated with mortality in this population.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Adult Patients With Neoplasms: Outcomes and Trend Over the Last 2 Decades

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is utilized in the management of severe respiratory and circulatory failure. Advanced malignancy is a relative contraindication, but the indication for ECMO in the oncologic population has not been clearly established because of the wide spectrum of malignant disease and prognoses. The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization database was queried for patients older than 18 years with an International Classification of Diseases code of neoplasm over the past 2 decades (2000-2019). The data were divided into 2 decades to analyze and compare the trends with background and outcomes. One thousand six-hundred ninety-seven patients met inclusion criteria from the latest decade which is over 15 times the previous decade (n = 110). Compared with the previous decade, ECMO was used more in patients with older age (56 vs . 50.5 years old; p < 0.001), cardiac and extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) support type ( p = 0.011), and lower oxygenation index (23.0 vs . 35.6; p < 0.001) in the latest decade. Although overall survival did not show significant improvement overall (38.9% vs . 33.6%; p = 0.312), survival in pulmonary ECMO has significantly improved in the latest decade (41.6% vs . 29.1%; p = 0.032). Compared with the previously reported data for all adult ECMO, our patients had a significantly lower survival with pulmonary (41.6% vs . 61.1%; p < 0.001) and cardiac (38.4% vs . 44.3%; p = 0.008) support while not with ECPR.

Critical care for multimorbid patients

Multimorbidity - the simultaneous presence of several chronic diseases - is very common in the critically ill patients. Its prevalence is roughly 40-85 % and continues to increase further. Certain chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, chronic heart, pulmonary, liver or kidney disease and malignancy are associated with higher risk of developing serious acute complications and therefore the possible need for intensive care. This review summarizes and discusses selected specifics of critical care for multimorbid patients.

Quality of life of patients with solid malignancies at 3 months after unplanned admission in the intensive care unit: A prospective case-control study

BACKGROUND

Although short- and long-term survival in critically ill patients with cancer has been described, data on their quality of life (QoL) after an intensive care unit (ICU) stay are scarce. This study aimed to determine the impact of an ICU stay on QoL assessed at 3 months in patients with solid malignancies.

METHODS

A prospective case-control study was conducted in three French ICUs between February 2020 and February 2021. Adult patients with lung, colorectal, or head and neck cancer who were admitted in the ICU were matched in a 1:2 ratio with patients who were not admitted in the ICU regarding their type of cancer, curative or palliative anticancer treatment, and treatment line. The primary endpoint was the QoL assessed at 3 months from inclusion using the mental and physical components of the Short Form 36 (SF-36) Health Survey. The use of anticancer therapies at 3 months was also evaluated.

RESULTS

In total, 23 surviving ICU cancer patients were matched with 46 non-ICU cancer patients. Four patients in the ICU group did not respond to the questionnaire. The mental component score of the SF-36 was higher in ICU patients than in non-ICU patients: median of 54 (interquartile range: 42-57) vs. 47 (37-52), respectively (p = 0.01). The physical component score of the SF-36 did not differ between groups: 35 (31-47) vs. 42 (34-47) (p = 0.24). In multivariate analysis, no association was found between patient QoL and an ICU stay. A good performance status and a non-metastatic cancer at baseline were independently associated with a higher physical component score. The use of anticancer therapies at 3 months was comparable between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

In patients with solid malignancies, an ICU stay had no negative impact on QoL at 3 months after discharge when compared with matched non-ICU patients.

Sepsis-associated coagulopathy in onco-hematology patients presenting with thrombocytopenia: a multicentric observational study

Coagulation disorders increase mortality rate during septic shock, but the impact of concomitant hematological malignancies remains unknown. The study assessed coagulation disorders in onco-hematological patients with thrombocytopenia (<100 G/L) admitted to ICU for septic shock. Among 146 included patients, 50 patients had lymphoma and 49 patients had acute leukemia. ICU mortality rate was 43.8% (n = 64). Median increase in prothrombin time (PT) at day(d) 1 was 4.7 s (IQR 3.2-7.9) in ICU survivors vs. 6.4 s (IQR 4.5-13.7; p < 0.01) in non-survivors. Fibrinogen kinetics (increase in fibrinogen levels between d1 and d2) was +0.55 (-0.22-1.55) vs. +0.10 g/L (-0.40-0.50; p = 0.03) in surviving and non-surviving patients, respectively. PT increase ≥6 s at d1 (OR 5.5; 95% CI 1.1-6.0; p = 0.03) and mechanical ventilation (OR 7.4; 95% CI 3.3-17.7; p < 0.001) were independently associated with ICU mortality. This study provides information and new ways to identify hematological patients with high-risk mortality.

Machine Learning Model Development and Validation for Predicting Outcome in Stage 4 Solid Cancer Patients with Septic Shock Visiting the Emergency Department: A Multi-Center, Prospective Cohort Study

A reliable prognostic score for minimizing futile treatments in advanced cancer patients with septic shock is rare. A machine learning (ML) model to classify the risk of advanced cancer patients with septic shock is proposed and compared with the existing scoring systems. A multi-center, retrospective, observational study of the septic shock registry in patients with stage 4 cancer was divided into a training set and a test set in a 7:3 ratio. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality. The best ML model was determined using a stratified 10-fold cross-validation in the training set. A total of 897 patients were included, and the 28-day mortality was 26.4%. The best ML model in the training set was balanced random forest (BRF), with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.821 to predict 28-day mortality. The AUC of the BRF to predict the 28-day mortality in the test set was 0.859. The AUC of the BRF was significantly higher than those of the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score and the Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (both p < 0.001). The ML model outperformed the existing scores for predicting 28-day mortality in stage 4 cancer patients with septic shock. However, further studies are needed to improve the prediction algorithm and to validate it in various countries. This model might support clinicians in real-time to adopt appropriate levels of care.

Determinants of mortality in cancer patients with unscheduled admission to the Intensive Care Unit: A prospective multicenter study

OBJECTIVES

To analyze clinical features associated to mortality in oncological patients with unplanned admission to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and to determine whether such risk factors differ between patients with solid tumors and those with hematological malignancies.

DESIGN

An observational study was carried out.

SETTING

A total of 123 Intensive Care Units across Spain.

PATIENTS

All cancer patients with unscheduled admission due to acute illness related to the background oncological disease.

INTERVENTIONS

None.

MAIN VARIABLES

Demographic parameters, severity scores and clinical condition were assessed, and mortality was analyzed. Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 482 patients were included: solid cancer (n=311) and hematological malignancy (n=171). Multivariate regression analysis showed the factors independently associated to ICU mortality to be the APACHE II score (OR 1.102; 95% CI 1.064-1.143), medical admission (OR 3.587; 95% CI 1.327-9.701), lung cancer (OR 2.98; 95% CI 1.48-5.99) and mechanical ventilation after the first 24h of ICU stay (OR 2.27; 95% CI 1.09-4.73), whereas no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor (OR 0.15; 95% CI 0.09-0.28). In solid cancer patients, the APACHE II score, medical admission, antibiotics in the previous 48h and lung cancer were identified as independent mortality indicators, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. In the multivariate analysis, the APACHE II score and mechanical ventilation after 24h of ICU stay were independently associated to mortality in hematological cancer patients, while no need for mechanical ventilation was identified as a protective factor. Neutropenia was not identified as an independent mortality predictor in either the total cohort or in the two subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

The risk factors associated to mortality did not differ significantly between patients with solid cancers and those with hematological malignancies. Delayed intubation in patients requiring mechanical ventilation might be associated to ICU mortality.

Early onset delirium incidence and risk factors in hematology oncology patients admitted to the intensive care unit: A retrospective cohort study

Background

Delirium occurs frequently in intensive care unit (ICU) patients; however, there are limited data evaluating its impact on critically ill hematology-oncology patients. We aimed to determine the incidence and risk factors for early-onset delirium development in hematology-oncology patients admitted to the ICU.

Methods

This single-center, retrospective cohort study evaluated the primary outcome of incident delirium within 7 days of ICU admission in adults admitted to the hematology-oncology medical or surgical ICU. Patients with delirium (DEL) were compared to those without (No-DEL) for evaluation of secondary endpoints including hospital mortality, ICU, and hospital length of stay (LOS). Multivariable logistic regression modeling was performed to identify independent risk factors for delirium.

Results

Delirium occurred in 125 (51.2%) of 244 patients. Inhospital mortality was significantly higher in the DEL vs. No-DEL group (32.8% vs. 15.1%, P = 0.002). Median (1st and 3rd quartiles) ICU and hospital LOS were significantly longer in the delirium group, respectively (6 [4-10] days vs. 3 [2-5] days, P < 0.001, and 21 [14-36] days vs. 12 [8-22] days, P < 0.001). Higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, high-dose corticosteroids, mechanical ventilation (MV), and brain metastases were each independently, associated with an increased delirium risk.

Conclusion

Hematology-oncology patients admitted to the ICU frequently develop delirium. Consistent with literature in nonhematology-oncology critically ill patients, identified independent risk factors for delirium were MV and organ dysfunction. Risk factors unique to the critically ill hematology-oncology patient population include high-dose corticosteroids and brain metastases. Further research is needed to evaluate strategies to mitigate delirium development in this population based on risk assessment.

Cardiogenic shock among cancer patients

Sophisticated cancer treatments, cardiovascular risk factors, and aging trigger acute cardiovascular diseases in an increasing number of cancer patients. Among acute cardiovascular diseases, cancer treatment, as well as the cancer disease itself, may induce a cardiogenic shock. Although increasing, these cardiogenic shocks are still relatively limited, and their management is a matter of debate in cancer patients. Etiologies that cause cardiogenic shock are slightly different from those of non-cancer patients, and management has some specific features always requiring a multidisciplinary approach. Recent guidelines and extensive data from the scientific literature can provide useful guidance for the management of these critical patients. Even if no etiologic therapy is available, maximal intensive supportive measures can often be justified, as most of these cardiogenic shocks are potentially reversible. In this review, we address the major etiologies that can lead to cardiogenic shock in cancer patients and discuss issues related to its management.

A critical care outreach team under strain - Evaluation of the service provided to patients with haematological malignancy during the Covid-19 pandemic

Purpose

Critical Care Outreach Teams (CCOTs) have been associated with improved outcomes in patients with haematological malignancy (HM). This study aims to describe CCOT activation by patients with HM before and during the Covid-19 pandemic, assess amny association with worse outcomes, and examine the psychological impact on the CCOT.

Materials and methods

A retrospective, mixed-methods analysis was performed in HM patients reviewed by the CCOT over a two-year period, 01 July 2019 to 31 May 2021.

Results

The CCOT increased in size during the surge period and reviewed 238 HM patients, less than in the pre- and post-surge periods. ICU admission in the baseline, surge and the non-surge periods were 41.7%, 10.4% and 47.9% respectively. ICU mortality was 22.5%, 0% and 21.7% for the same times. Time to review was significantly decreased (p = 0.012). Semi-structured interviews revealed four themes of psychological distress: 1) time-critical work; 2) non-evidence based therapies; 3) feelings of guilt; 4) increased decision-making responsibility.

Conclusions

Despite the increase in total hospital referrals, the number of patients with HM that were reviewed during the surge periods decreased, as did their ICU admission rate and mortality. The quality of care provided was not impaired, as reflected by the number of patients receiving bedside reviews and the shorter-than-pre-pandemic response time.

High-flow nasal cannula failure in critically ill cancer patients with acute respiratory failure: Moving from avoiding intubation to avoiding delayed intubation

Background

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is increasingly used in critically ill cancer patients with acute respiratory failure (ARF) to avoid mechanical ventilation (MV). The objective was to assess prognostic factors associated with mortality in ICU cancer patients requiring MV after HFNC failure, and to identify predictive factors of intubation.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study from 2012–2016 in a cancer referral center. All consecutive onco-hematology adult patients admitted to the ICU treated with HFNC were included. HFNC failure was defined by intubation requirement.

Results

202 patients were included, 104 successfully treated with HFNC and 98 requiring intubation. ICU and hospital mortality rates were 26.2% (n = 53) and 42.1% (n = 85) respectively, and 53.1% (n = 52) and 68.4% (n = 67) in patients requiring MV. Multivariate analysis identified 4 prognostic factors of hospital mortality after HFNC failure: complete/partial remission (OR = 0.2, 95%CI = 0.04–0.98, p<0.001) compared to patients with refractory/relapse disease (OR = 3.73, 95%CI = 1.08–12.86), intubation after day 3 (OR = 7.78, 95%CI = 1.44–41.96), number of pulmonary quadrants involved on chest X-ray (OR = 1.93, 95%CI = 1.14–3.26, p = 0.01) and SAPSII at ICU admission (OR = 1.06, 95%CI = 1–1.12, p = 0.019). Predictive factors of intubation were the absence of sepsis (sHR = 0.32, 95%CI = 0.12–0.74, p = 0.0087), Sp02<95% 15 minutes after HFNC initiation (sHR = 2.05, 95%CI = 1.32–3.18, p = 0.0014), number of quadrants on X-ray (sHR = 1.73, 95%CI = 1.46–2.06, p<0.001), Fi02>60% at HFNC initiation (sHR = 3.12, 95%CI = 2.06–4.74, p<0.001) and SAPSII at ICU admission (sHR = 1.03, 95%CI = 1.02–1.05, p<0.01).

Conclusion

Duration of HFNC may be predictive of an excess mortality in ARF cancer patients. Early warning scores to predict HFNC failure are needed to identify patients who would benefit from early intubation.

Comparison of Short- and Long-Term Mortality in Patients with or without Cancer Admitted to the ICU for Septic Shock: A Retrospective Observational Study

Introduction: Cancer patients are at high risk of developing septic shock (SSh) and are increasingly admitted to ICU given their improved long-term prognosis. We, therefore, compared the prognosis of cancer and non-cancer patients with SSh. Methods: We conducted a monocentric, retrospective cohort study (2013−2019) on patients admitted to ICU for SSh. We compared the clinical characteristics and management and studied short- and long-term mortality with ICU and in-hospital mortality and 1-year survival according to cancer status. Results: We analyzed 239 ICU stays in 210 patients, 59.5% of whom were men (n = 125), with a median age of 66.5 (IQR 56.3−77.0). Of the 121 cancer patients (57.6% of all patients), 70 had solid tumors (33.3%), and 51 had hematological malignancies (24.3%). When comparing ICU stays of patients with versus without cancer (n = 148 vs. n = 91 stays, respectively), mortality reached 30.4% (n = 45) vs. 30.0% (n = 27) in the ICU (p = 0.95), and 41.6% (n = 59) vs. 35.6% (n = 32) in hospital (p = 0.36), respectively. ICU length of stay (LOS) was 5.0 (2.0−11.3) vs. 6.0 (3.0−15.0) days (p = 0.27), whereas in-hospital LOS was 25.5 (13.8−42.0) vs. 19.5 (10.8−41.0) days (p = 0.33). Upon multivariate analysis, renal replacement therapy (OR = 2.29, CI95%: 1.06−4.93, p = 0.03), disseminated intravascular coagulation (OR = 5.89, CI95%: 2.49−13.92, p < 0.01), and mechanical ventilation (OR = 7.85, CI95%: 2.90−21.20, p < 0.01) were associated with ICU mortality, whereas malignancy, hematological, or solid tumors were not (OR = 1.41, CI95%: 0.65−3.04; p = 0.38). Similarly, overall cancer status was not associated with in-hospital mortality (OR = 1.99, CI95%: 0.98−4.03, p = 0.06); however, solid cancers were associated with increased in-hospital mortality (OR = 2.52, CI95%: 1.12−5.67, p = 0.03). Lastly, mortality was not significantly different at 365-day follow-up between patients with and without cancer. Conclusions: In-hospital and ICU mortality, as well as LOS, were not different in SSh patients with and without cancer, suggesting that malignancies should no longer be considered a barrier to ICU admission.

Prognostic factors for advanced lung cancer patients with do-not-intubate order in intensive care unit: a retrospective study

Background

The survival of patients with lung cancer undergoing critical care has improved. An increasing number of patients with lung cancer have signed a predefined do-not-intubate (DNI) order before admission to the intensive care unit (ICU). These patients may still be transferred to the ICU and even receive non-invasive ventilation (NIV) support. However, there is still a lack of prognostic predictions in this cohort. Whether patients will benefit from ICU care remains unclear.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data from patients with advanced lung cancer who had signed a DNI order before ICU admission in a tertiary medical center between 2014 and 2016. The clinical characteristics and survival outcomes were discussed.

Results

A total of 140 patients (median age, 73 years; 62.1% were male) were included, had been diagnosed with stage III or IV non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) (AJCC 7th edition), and signed a DNI. Most patients received NIV during ICU stay. The median APACHE II score was 14 (standard error [SE], ± 0.66) and the mean PaO2/FiO2 ratio (P/F ratio) was 174.2 (SD, ± 104 mmHg). The APACHE II score was significantly lower in 28-day survivors (survivor: 12 (± 0.98) vs. non-survivor: 15 (± 0.83); p = 0.019). The P/F ratio of the survivors was higher than that of non-survivors (survivors: 209.6 ± 111.4 vs. non-survivors: 157.9 ± 96.7; p = 0.006). Patients with a P/F ratio ≥ 150 had better 28-day survival (p = 0.005). By combining P/F ratio ≥ 150 and APACHE II score < 16, those with high P/F ratios and low APACHE II scores during ICU admission had a notable 28-day survival compared with the rest (p < 0.001). These prognostic factors could also be applied to 90-day survival (p = 0.003). The prediction model was significant for those with driver mutations in 90-day survival (p = 0.021).

Conclusions

P/F ratio ≥ 150 and APACHE II score < 16 were significant prognostic factors for critically ill patients with lung cancer and DNI. This prediction could be applied to 90-day survival in patients with driver mutations. These findings are informative for clinical practice and decision-making.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12890-022-02042-7.

Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome: A therapeutic approach in the critically ill

Immunotherapy with chimeric antigen-specific receptor modified T cells, known as CAR-T, is emerging as a promising approach to hematological malignancies. In this regard, CAR-T against human cluster of differentiation (CD) 19 has demonstrated antitumor efficacy in application to B cell neoplasms resistant to conventional therapy. However, activation of the immune system induces severe and specific complications which can prove life-threatening. These include cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (known as ICANS) - the latter being the subject of the present review. Although the physiopathological mechanisms underlying ICANS are not well known, a number of clinical and biological factors increase the risk of developing neurotoxicity associated to CAR-T therapy. Treatment is based on close monitoring, measures of support, anticonvulsivants, corticosteroids, and early admission to intensive care. The present study offers a comprehensive review of the available literature from a multidisciplinary perspective, including recommendations from intensivists, neurologists and hematologists dedicated to the care of critically ill adults.

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Patients with Thoracic Neoplasms: An Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO) Registry Analysis

BACKGROUND

Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is utilized in the management of severe cardiopulmonary failure but the indication in the oncologic population has not been clearly established. Among malignancies, thoracic neoplasms are unique in their potential direct impact on cardiopulmonary function. This study aims to better define the role of ECMO for thoracic neoplasms.

METHODS

The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization registry was queried for patients older than 18 years with an International Classification of Diseases code of thoracic neoplasm over the past two decades (2000-2019). Outcomes and clinical data including associated procedures were analyzed.

RESULTS

Four hundred ninety-eight patients met inclusion criteria: 34 upper airway, 247 lung, 45 unspecified respiratory tract, 4 pleura, 19 heart, 40 mediastinum, 108 esophagus, and 1 unspecified neoplasm. One hundred ninety-eight patients survived to discharge (39.8%; "survival"). Upper airway neoplasms were associated with better survival (73.5%; p=0.005) while lung neoplasms were associated with worse survival (30.0%; p<0.001) when compared with all adult ECMO runs. Of the 498 cases, 94 (18.9%) were started after thoracic or airway procedures. Favorable survival was associated with tracheal procedures (66.7%, n=9), while poor survival was seen with pneumonectomy (13.3%, n=30), any type of lung resection (23.7%, n=76), and esophageal procedures (21.4%, n=14).

CONCLUSIONS

The outcome for ECMO among patients with a thoracic neoplasm is variable, depending on clinical factors including tumor subtype and type of associated procedure. Clinicians should continue to focus on individualized patient selection to achieve optimal results.

Differences in ICU Outcomes According to the Type of Anticancer Drug in Lung Cancer Patients

Purpose

We investigated the intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes of patients who used targeted therapy compared to those who received cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Materials and Methods

This study was based on Korean administrative health insurance claims from 2015 to 2019. We extracted data on lung cancer patients (&gt;18 years old) who were admitted to the ICU after receiving chemotherapy.

Results

6,930 lung cancer patients who received chemotherapy within 30 days before ICU admission were identified; the patients received cytotoxic chemotherapy (85.4%, n = 5,919) and molecular targeted therapy (14.5%, n = 1,011). Grade 4 neutropenia was identified only in the cytotoxic chemotherapy group (0.6%). Respiratory failure requiring ventilator treatment was more common in the cytotoxic chemotherapy group than in the targeted therapy group (HR, 3.30; 95% CI, 2.99–3.63), and renal failure requiring renal replacement therapy was not significantly different between the two groups (HR, 1.57; 95% CI, 1.36–1.80). Patients who received targeted chemotherapy stayed longer in the ICU than the cytotoxic chemotherapy. The 28-day mortality was 23.4% (HR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.67–0.90, p &lt; 0.05) among patients who received targeted agents compared with 29.6% among patients who received cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Conclusion

Targeted chemotherapy for lung cancer may contribute to increasing access to critical care for lung cancer patients, which may play a role in improving critical care outcomes of lung cancer patients.

Effect of the underlying malignancy on critically ill septic patient's outcome

BACKGROUND

Sepsis is an important cause of mortality and morbidity among critically ill patients with underlying malignancy.

METHODS

Patients with sepsis admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital from January 1, 2010 to April 30, 2019 were recruited. Demographics, laboratory parameter, and outcome were analyzed. Those with underlying malignancy were matched with those without malignancy based on their severity of organ failure (defined by the sequential organ failure assessment [SOFA] score) and septic source.

RESULTS

Two hundred sixty-three patients with underlying active malignancy were matched with 259 patients without malignancy. Those with malignancy had higher APACHE IV score (89 vs. 83), lower albumin (22.1 vs. 24.4), neutrophil count (6.0 vs. 9.3), hemoglobin (8.0 vs. 9.8), platelet count (113 vs. 133), less use of mechanical ventilation (35.7% vs. 45.9%), renal replacement therapy (22.1% vs. 28.2%) and vasopressor (66.2% vs. 74.9%), higher 30-day (34.2% vs. 24.3%) ICU (22.4% vs. 18.9%), and 1-year (62.4% vs. 36.7%) mortality compared with those without malignancy. A higher APACHE IV score and pulmonary sepsis were predictors of 30-day mortality by Cox regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Disease severity and pulmonary sepsis, but not underlying malignancy, predicted short-term mortality among critically ill septic patients.

One-year Mortality of Cancer Patients with an Unplanned ICU Admission: A Cohort Analysis Between 2008 and 2017 in the Netherlands

Introduction: A decrease in short-term mortality of critically ill cancer patients with an unplanned intensive care unit (ICU) admission has been described. Few studies describe a change over time of 1-year mortality. Therefore, we examined the 1-year mortality of cancer patients (hematological or solid) with an unplanned ICU admission and we described whether the mortality changed over time. Methods: We used the National Intensive Care Evaluation (NICE) registry and extracted all patients with an unplanned ICU admission in the Netherlands between 2008 and 2017. The primary outcome was 1-year mortality, analyzed with a mixed-effects Cox proportional hazard regression. We compared the 1-year mortality of cancer patients to that of patients without cancer. Furthermore, we examined changes in mortality over the study period. Results: We included 470,305 patients: 10,401 with hematological cancer, 35,920 with solid cancer, and 423,984 without cancer. The 1-year mortality rates were 60.1%, 46.2%, and 28.3% respectively (P< .01). Approximately 30% of the cancer patients surviving their hospital admission died within 1 year, this was 12% in patients without cancer. In hematological patients, 1-year mortality decreased between 2008 and 2011, after which it stabilized. In solid cancer patients, inspection showed neither an increasing nor decreasing trend over the inclusion period. For patients without cancer, 1-year mortality decreased between 2008 and 2013, after which it stabilized. A clear decrease in hospital mortality was seen within all three groups. Conclusion: The 1-year mortality of cancer patients with an unplanned ICU admission (hematological and solid) was higher than that of patients without cancer. About one-third of the cancer patients surviving their hospital admission died within 1 year after ICU admission. We found a decrease in 1-year mortality until 2011 in hematology patients and no decrease in solid cancer patients. Our results suggest that for many cancer patients, an unplanned ICU admission is still a way to recover from critical illness, and it does not necessarily lead to success in long-term survival. The underlying type of malignancy is an important factor for long-term outcomes in patients recovering from critical illness.

Implications of intensive care unit admissions among medicare beneficiaries following resection of pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Intensive care unit (ICU) use has increased among patients with cancer. We sought to define factors associated with ICU admissions among patients with pancreatic cancer and characterize trends in mortality among hospital survivors.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare linked database was used to identify patients with pancreatic cancer who underwent resection. Multivariable analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with ICU admission and mortality among hospital survivors.

RESULTS

Among 6422 Medicare beneficiaries who underwent resection of pancreatic cancer, 2386 (37.1%) had an ICU admission. Patients with ICU admissions were more likely to be younger (10-year increase odds ratio [OR]: 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.77-0.89), male (OR: 1.17, 95% CI 1.05-1.30) and undergo resection at a teaching hospital (OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.05-1.36). While the majority of patients survived to hospital discharge (n = 2106; 88.3%), a majority of patients (n = 1296; 54.3%) died within 6 months. Among patients who had subsequent ICU admissions, 1- and 5-year survival was only 31.8% and 11.0%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Over one-third of patients with pancreatic cancer had an ICU admission. While most patients survived hospitalization, more than one-half of patients died within 6 months of discharge and two-thirds died within 1 year. These data should serve to guide patient-provider discussions around prognosis relative to ICU utilization.

Severe Cardiac Toxicity Induced by Cancer Therapies Requiring Intensive Care Unit Admission

A steadying increase of cancer survivors has been observed as a consequence of more effective therapies. However, chemotherapy regimens are often associated with significant toxicity, and cardiac damage emerges as a prominent clinical issue. Many mechanisms sustain chemotherapy-induced cardiac toxicity: direct myocyte damage, arrhythmia induction, coronary vasospasm, and accelerated atherosclerosis. Anthracyclines are the most studied cardiotoxic drugs and represent a clinical model for cardiac damage induced by chemotherapy. In patients suffering from advanced heart failure (HF) because of chemotherapy-related cardiomyopathy, when refractory to optimal medical therapy, mechanical circulatory support or heart transplantation represents an effective treatment. Here, the main mechanisms of cardiac toxicity induced by cancer therapies are analyzed, with a focus on patients requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission during the course of the disease because of acute cardiac toxicity, takotsubo syndrome, and acute-on-chronic HF in patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced cardiomyopathy. In a subset of patients, cardiac toxicity can be acute and life-threatening, leading to overt cardiogenic shock. The management of critically ill cancer patients poses a unique challenge and requires a multidisciplinary approach. Moreover, no etiologic therapy is available, and only supportive measures can be implemented.

Critical illness in patients with hematologic malignancy: a population-based cohort study

PURPOSE

To describe the modern incidence and predictors of ICU admission for adult patients newly diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy.

METHODS

We conducted a population-based cohort study of adults with a new diagnosis of hematologic malignancy (April 1, 2006-March 31, 2017) in Ontario, Canada. We described the baseline demographic, clinical and laboratory predictors of ICU admission and subsequent mortality. The primary outcome was the incidence of ICU admission within 1 year of hematologic malignancy diagnosis. We assessed the predictors of ICU admission using Cox-proportional models that accounted for the competing risk of death and reported as subdistribution hazard ratios (sHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

RESULTS

A total of 87,965 patients (mean [SD] age, 67.8 (15.7) years) were included. The 1-year incidence of ICU admission was 13.9% (median time 35 days), ranging from 7.3% (indolent lymphoma) to 22.5% (acute myeloid leukemia). After multivariable adjustment, compared to indolent lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia (sHR, 3.09; 95% CI 2.84-3.35), aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (sHR, 2.47; 95% CI 2.31-2.65) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (sHR, 2.46; 95% CI 2.15-2.80) had the highest risk of ICU admission. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular disease (sHR, 2.09; 95% CI 2.01-2.19), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (sHR, 1.33; 95% CI 1.26-1.39) and baseline laboratory abnormalities (anemia, thrombocytopenia and high creatinine) were also associated with ICU admission. Among ICU patients, 36.7% required invasive mechanical ventilation and in-hospital mortality was 31%.

CONCLUSION

Critical illness in patients with a newly diagnosed hematologic malignancy is frequent, occurring early after diagnosis. Certain baseline characteristics can help identify those patients at the highest risk.

Mortality in Cancer Patients With COVID-19 Who Are Admitted to an ICU or Who Have Severe COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

There are scarce data to aid in prognostication of the outcome of critically ill cancer patients with COVID-19. In this systematic review and meta-analysis, we investigated the mortality of critically ill cancer patients with COVID-19.

In 28 studies, pooled mortality in cancer patients with COVID-19 admitted to an ICU was not prohibitively high (60%)

Mortality Trends of Oncology and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients Supported on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

There is an increasing frequency of oncology and hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients seen in the intensive care unit and requiring extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), however, prognosis of this population over time is unclear.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane and Web of Science were searched from earliest publication until April 10, 2020 for studies to determine the mortality trend over time in oncology and HSCT patients requiring ECMO. Primary outcome was hospital mortality. Random-effects meta-analysis model was used to obtain pooled estimates of mortality and 95% confidence intervals. A priori subgroup metanalysis compared adult versus pediatric, oncology versus HSCT, hematological malignancy versus solid tumor, allogeneic versus autologous HSCT, and veno-arterial versus veno-venous ECMO populations. Multivariable meta-regression was also performed for hospital mortality to account for year of study and HSCT population.

RESULTS

17 eligible observational studies (n = 1109 patients) were included. Overall pooled hospital mortality was 72% (95% CI: 65, 78). In the subgroup analysis, only HSCT was associated with a higher hospital mortality compared to oncology subgroup [84% (95% CI: 70, 93) vs. 66% (95% CI: 56, 74); P = 0.021]. Meta-regression showed that HSCT was associated with increased mortality [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 3.84 (95% CI 1.77, 8.31)], however, mortality improved with time [aOR 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85, 0.99) with each advancing year].

CONCLUSION

This study reports a high overall hospital mortality in oncology and HSCT patients on ECMO which improved over time. The presence of HSCT portends almost a 4-fold increased risk of mortality and this finding may need to be taken into consideration during patient selection for ECMO.

Outcome of cancer patients considered for intensive care unit admission in two university hospitals in the Netherlands: the danger of delayed ICU admissions and off-hour triage decisions

Background

Very few studies assessed the association between Intensive Care Unit (ICU) triage decisions and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess whether an association could be found between 30-day mortality, and ICU admission consultation conditions and triage decisions.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study in two large referral university hospitals in the Netherlands. We identified all adult cancer patients for whom ICU admission was requested from 2016 to 2019. Via a multivariable logistic regression analysis, we assessed the association between 30-day mortality, and ICU admission consultation conditions and triage decisions.

Results

Of the 780 cancer patients for whom ICU admission was requested, 332 patients (42.6%) were considered ‘too well to benefit’ from ICU admission, 382 (49%) patients were immediately admitted to the ICU and 66 patients (8.4%) were considered ‘too sick to benefit’ according to the consulting intensivist(s). The 30-day mortality in these subgroups was 30.1%, 36.9% and 81.8%, respectively. In the patient group considered ‘too well to benefit’, 258 patients were never admitted to the ICU and 74 patients (9.5% of the overall study population, 22.3% of the patients ‘too well to benefit’) were admitted to the ICU after a second ICU admission request (delayed ICU admission). Thirty-day mortality in these groups was 25.6% and 45.9%. After adjustment for confounders, ICU consultations during off-hours (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.09–2.38, p-value 0.02) and delayed ICU admission (OR 1.83, 95% CI 1.00–3.33, p-value 0.048 compared to “ICU admission”) were independently associated with 30-day mortality.

Conclusion

The ICU denial rate in our study was high (51%). Sixty percent of the ICU triage decisions in cancer patients were made during off-hours, and 22.3% of the patients initially considered “too well to benefit” from ICU admission were subsequently admitted to the ICU. Both decisions during off-hours and a delayed ICU admission were associated with an increased risk of death at 30 days. Our study suggests that in cancer patients, ICU triage decisions should be discussed during on-hours, and ICU admission policy should be broadened, with a lower admission threshold for critically ill cancer patients.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13613-021-00898-2.

Outcomes of ICU patients with and without perceptions of excessive care: a comparison between cancer and non-cancer patients

Background

Whether Intensive Care Unit (ICU) clinicians display unconscious bias towards cancer patients is unknown. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of critically ill patients with and without perceptions of excessive care (PECs) by ICU clinicians in patients with and without cancer.

Methods

This study is a sub-analysis of the large multicentre DISPROPRICUS study. Clinicians of 56 ICUs in Europe and the United States completed a daily questionnaire about the appropriateness of care during a 28-day period. We compared the cumulative incidence of patients with concordant PECs, treatment limitation decisions (TLDs) and death between patients with uncontrolled and controlled cancer, and patients without cancer.

Results

Of the 1641 patients, 117 (7.1%) had uncontrolled cancer and 270 (16.4%) had controlled cancer. The cumulative incidence of concordant PECs in patients with uncontrolled and controlled cancer versus patients without cancer was 20.5%, 8.1%, and 9.1% (p < 0.001 and p = 0.62, respectively). In patients with concordant PECs, we found no evidence for a difference in time from admission until death (HR 1.02, 95% CI 0.60–1.72 and HR 0.87, 95% CI 0.49–1.54) and TLDs (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.33–1.99 and HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.27–1.81) across subgroups. In patients without concordant PECs, we found differences between the time from admission until death (HR 2.23, 95% CI 1.58–3.15 and 1.66, 95% CI 1.28–2.15), without a corresponding increase in time until TLDs (NA, p = 0.3 and 0.7) across subgroups.

Conclusions

The absence of a difference in time from admission until TLDs and death in patients with concordant PECs makes bias by ICU clinicians towards cancer patients unlikely. However, the differences between the time from admission until death, without a corresponding increase in time until TLDs, suggest prognostic unawareness, uncertainty or optimism in ICU clinicians who did not provide PECs, more specifically in patients with uncontrolled cancer. This study highlights the need to improve intra- and interdisciplinary ethical reflection and subsequent decision-making at the ICU.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13613-021-00895-5.

Physicians' Views and Agreement about Patient- and Context-Related Factors Influencing ICU Admission Decisions: A Prospective Study

Background: Single patient- and context-related factors have been associated with admission decisions to intensive care. How physicians weigh various factors and integrate them into the decision-making process is not well known. Objectives: First, to determine which patient- and context-related factors influence admission decisions according to physicians, and their agreement about these determinants; and second, to examine whether there are differences for patients with and without advanced disease. Method: This study was conducted in one tertiary hospital. Consecutive ICU consultations for medical inpatients were prospectively included. Involved physicians, i.e., internists and intensivists, rated the importance of 13 factors for each decision on a Likert scale (1 = negligible to 5 = predominant). We cross-tabulated these factors by presence or absence of advanced disease and examined the degree of agreement between internists and intensivists using the kappa statistic. Results: Of 201 evaluated patients, 105 (52.2%) had an advanced disease, and 140 (69.7%) were admitted to intensive care. The mean number of important factors per decision was 3.5 (SD 2.4) for intensivists and 4.4 (SD 2.1) for internists. Patient’s comorbidities, quality of life, preferences, and code status were most often mentioned. Inter-rater agreement was low for the whole population and after stratifying for patients with and without advanced disease. Kappa values ranged from 0.02 to 0.34 for all the patients, from −0.05 to 0.42 for patients with advanced disease, and from −0.08 to 0.32 for patients without advanced disease. The best agreement was found for family preferences. Conclusion: Poor agreement between physicians about patient- and context-related determinants of ICU admission suggests a lack of explicitness during the decision-making process. The potential consequences are increased variability and inequity regarding which patients are admitted. Timely advance care planning involving families could help physicians make the decision most concordant with patient preferences.