Oncology emergencies

Oncology patients have numerous complications that are life threatening and may require an admission into the intensive care unit (ICU). Most ICU nurses have a limited understanding of how to assess and treat this type of patient population. Three of the most common oncologic emergencies that can be seen in an ICU are malignant pleural effusion, cardiac tamponade, and superior vena cava syndrome. Each of these disease entities will be defined to introduce the ICU nurse to oncologic emergencies.