Critical care for patients with cancer

Malignancies are becoming increasingly common, especially as the population ages, and patients with cancer are likely to represent an increasing proportion of ICU populations. Advances in oncological and supportive care have led to improved prognosis and extension of survival time in patients with cancer. The National Institute Cancer located in Mexico City has an oncological ICU with 6 beds. During the biennium 2008-2009, 573 patients with cancer were admitted to the ICU. The mean age was 51 ± 16.36 years and 58.6% were women. The length of stay in the ICU was 2 days (interquartile range; 1-5). The 71.6% were surgical patients. The mortality rate was 15.9%. Patients with hemato-oncological cancer had higher ICU mortality rate than subgroup of critically ill patients with solid tumors (39.5% versus 11.9%). The course of organ dysfunction over first days of life-sustaining treatment before admission to ICU could be useful for physicians who treat critically ill cancer patients to detect patients who should be admitted to ICU to try to avoid the progression to multiple organ dysfunction. On the other hand, admission to the ICU should be offered to patients with newly diagnosed cancer and acute life-threatening cancer related events. The critical care of patients with cancer contribute and support to continue the fight against cancer.