Table 1 Prognosis in cancer patients needing intensive care support: the ten truths
From: Intensive care of the cancer patient: recent achievements and remaining challenges
1. Short-term survival after critical care illness has improved |
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2. Classic predictors of mortality are no longer relevant |
3. Clinicians' understanding of organ dysfunction has improved |
4. Some subgroups of patients continue to have high and unchanged mortality |
5. The typically used triage criteria for ICU admission are unreliable |
6. Three days of ICU management is warranted before making a final decision (ICU trial) |
7. Attempt should be made to find a balance between noninvasive treatments and avoiding delays in optimal therapies |
8. Close relationship and collaboration need to be developed between intensivists and hematologist/oncologists to increase skills of all sides in the global management of cancer patients |
9. Early admission to the ICU for cancer patients is recommended |
10. Doing everything possible, even cancer chemotherapy, may improve outcome |