The role of intensive care in managing childhood cancer

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Published on: February 6, 2019

K Meert1, M Lieh-Lai, I Sarnaik

  • 1Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit 48201.

American Journal of Clinical Oncology
|October 1, 1991
PubMed

Insights

Intensive care for childhood cancer complications can be life-saving. Many survivors regain their premorbid functional state, indicating aggressive support is warranted for pediatric oncology patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Oncology
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Pediatric Critical Care

Background:

  • Childhood cancer presents complex critical care challenges.
  • Understanding the value of intensive care for these patients is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the clinical course and outcomes of pediatric cancer patients admitted to the ICU.
  • To determine the impact of intensive care on survival and functional recovery.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of 183 pediatric cancer admissions to the ICU from 1984-1988.
  • Focused on 63 admissions for malignancy complications, excluding postoperative observation.

Main Results:

  • Admissions for sepsis, pulmonary disease, or coma correlated with poor outcomes.
  • 36% of patients on mechanical ventilation and 27% on inotropic support survived >6 months.
  • Survivors often returned to their premorbid functional state, with no difference in ICU stay duration.

Conclusions:

  • Life-threatening cancer complications are often reversible with intensive care.
  • Aggressive intensive support is justified by the potential for significant functional recovery in survivors.

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