Clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill cancer patients with septic shock.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill cancer patients with septic shock. DESIGN: Prospective, observational cohort study. METHODS: Medical-surgical intensive care unit (ICU) at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología located in Mexico City from January 2008 to February 2010. There were no interventions. Eighty-two consecutive cancer patients with septic shock aged over 18 years were prospectively included and evaluated. RESULTS: During the study period, 620 critically ill cancer patients were admitted to ICU. Ninety-four patients were evaluated for septic shock at the request of ward onco-hematologists or surgeon oncologist responsible for the patient. After being evaluated by the intensivists, 82 patients were admitted to the ICU. Of the 82 patients, 56 (68.3%) had solid tumours and 26 (31.7%) had hematological malignancy. The most frequent sites of infection were: abdominal (57.3%) and respiratory (35.8%). Cultures were positive in 41 (50%) patients. The 63.4% of the patients had three or more organ dysfunctions on the day of their admission to the ICU. Cox multivariate analysis identified the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score [hazard ratio (HR): 1.11; 95% confidence interval (95% CI): 1.02-1.19, P=0.008) and performance status (PS)≥2 (HR: 1.84; 95% CI: 1.03-3.29, P=0.040) as independent predictors of death to 3 months. The ICU mortality rate was 41.5% (95% CI: 31-52%). CONCLUSION: The variables associated with increased mortality were the degree of organ dysfunction determined by SOFA score at ICU admission and PS≥2.

Prognostic factors in critically ill patients with solid tumours admitted to an oncological intensive care unit.

The mortality and prognostic factors for patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) with solid tumours are unclear The aim of this study was to describe demographic, clinical and survival data and to identify factors associated with mortality in critically ill patients with solid tumours. A prospective observational cohort study of 177 critically ill patients with solid tumours admitted to a medical-surgical oncological ICU was undertaken. There were no interventions. Among the admissions, 66% were surgical, 79.7% required mechanical ventilation during their stay in the ICU and 31.6% presented with severe sepsis or septic shock. In a multivariate analysis, independent prognostic factors for in-ICU death were the need for vasopressors (OR: 22.66, 95% confidence interval: 6.09 to 82.22, P < 0.001) and the acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score (OR: 1.92, 95% confidence interval: 1.43 to 2.58, P < 0.001). Cox multivariate analysis identified the length of stay in the ICU, Charlson comorbidity index score greater than 2, and the need for vasopressors as independent predictors of death after ICU discharge. The mortality rate in the ICU was 21.4%. Improved outcomes in critically ill cancer patients extended to the subgroup of patients with solid tumours. Independent prognostic factors for in-ICU death were the need for vasopressors and the APACHE IL score, while the length of stay in the ICU, Charlson comorbidity index score >2, and the need for vasopressors were independent predictors of death after ICU discharge.

[Prevention of myelotoxicity in a case of bone marrow transplantation using granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor along with ganciclovir]. / Prevención de mielotoxicidad en un caso de trasplante medular con factor estimulante de colonias granulocito-macrófago asociado a ganciclovir.

We report the first experience of the use of GM-CSF as prophylaxis of ganciclovir induced severe bone marrow suppression in a CMV seropositive patient with acute myeloid leukemia who underwent a complete remission after an allogeneic bone marrow transplantation from an identical HLA sibling who also was CMV seropositive. A successful bone marrow engraftment was documented by day 14. Once peripheral blood counts stabilized, the patient received ganciclovir 5 mg/kg TIW. By day 73 severe neutropenia was documented but a spontaneous improvement occurred with discontinuation of ganciclovir. From day 100 to day. 110 he received daily ganciclovir at a dose of 5 mg/kg and the same dose of GM-CSF without signs of toxicity. There was no evidence of either acute graft versus host disease or of CMV infection. One year after transplantation he relapsed and died of complications of acute leukemia.