Initiation of a new anti-cancer medical treatment in ICU: a retrospective study

Purpose: The purpose of our study is to evaluate the characteristics of patients whose medical anti-cancer treatment has been initiated at the ICU and to release prognostic factors for hospital mortality in these patients. Material and Methods: We analyzed retrospectively all the records of cancer patients admitted between 01/01/2007 and 31/12/2017 in our ICU and for whom a new anti-cancer medical treatment was initiated during their ICU stay. Results: Our study includes 147 patients, 78 men (53%) and 69 women (47%), with a median age of 58 years. Eighty patients (54%) had a solid tumor and 67 (46%) a hematological malignancy. ICU mortality was 23% and hospital mortality 32%. The poor prognostic factors for hospital mortality were: higher SOFA, higher Charslon comorbidity index and the presence of a therapeutic limitation (introduced at the time of admission or within 24 hours of admission to the ICU). One-year survival for patients who survived hospital stay was 37% (17% for those with a solid tumor and 61% for the ones with a hematological malignancy). Conclusion: Initiation of an anti-cancer medical treatment is feasible and can lead to good 1 year survival rate, especially for those with a hematological tumor.