Outcome of mechanical ventilation for adults with hematologic malignancy

Patients with hematologic malignancy who develop respiratory failure generally have a very poor prognosis. A few such patients, however, enjoy long-term survival. The objective of this study was to identify clinical characteristics of patients with hematologic malignancy and respiratory failure that are predictive of outcome.

We performed a retrospective chart review of all patients who required mechanical ventilation for acute respiratory failure while on the leukemia or bone marrow transplantation units at the Johns Hopkins Oncology Center between January 1985 and October 1991 (n = 157).

Overall hospital mortality was 83%. Major organ system dysfunction, as measured by the acute physiology score (APS) of the APACHE III prognostic system, was significantly (P < 0.05) related to hospital mortality. Three disease-specific clinical characteristics were predictive of mortality: 1) stage beyond first complete remission, 2) duration of neutropenia greater than 30 days, and 3) treatment with bone marrow transplantation, especially if HLA-mismatched. None of the 15 (10%) patients with neutropenia greater than 30 days or the four patients who underwent HLA-mismatched transplantation survived to discharge. Age was also a significant predictor of hospital mortality.

Overall outcome of patients with hematologic malignancy and acute respiratory failure is poor. A larger prospective study will be required to confirm the relative value of disease-specific variables identified in this study when combined with established predictive variables. In the future, it may be possible to develop a predictive instrument that is specifically tailored for patients with hematologic malignancy who develop respiratory failure.