No abstract

Acute tumor lysis syndrome (ATLS), a condition which results from a rapid destruction of tumor cells with massive release of cellular breakdown products, has been well described. However, only a few cases of spontaneous ATLS have been reported in the literature. Acute renal failure (ARF) from spontaneous ATLS has been reported only in three patients who were diagnosed to have Burkitt's lymphoma, adenocarcinoma, and acute myeloid leukemia. We report a similar case of a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, who developed ARF from spontaneous ATLS. ARF can complicate the clinical course of spontaneous ATLS. Since only one patient survived, patients who develop ARF from spontaneous ATLS have a poor outcome. This paper illustrates the need to anticipate the development of ARF, despite aggressive therapy, in a patient with spontaneous ATLS. Prospective studies on renal function prior to and during therapy are required in order to develop a clinical profile reliably detecting patients at risk for developing renal failure and subsequent complication.

No abstract

The use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filter for massive pulmonary emboli (PE) with cardiopulmonary instability has not been clinically studied. We present a case series of six such patients who received an IVC filter with anticoagulation rather than thrombolysis because of high risk of bleeding. Acute pulmonary embolectomy was considered, but was not possible for a variety of individual clinical situations. These six hospitalized patients prospectively followed during their admission. They were triaged to three medical intensive care units (ICUs) and one surgical ICU in three university teaching hospitals. One patient was transferred from another institution. All six patients had severe hypoxia and tenuous cardiopulmonary status. All required high inspiratory oxygen and hemodynamic support; two required mechanical ventilation and vasopressors. An IVC filter was placed emergently and anticoagulation was started immediately All six patients had resolution of pulmonary thromboemboli (PTE) on anticoagulation while the IVC filter prevented further PE. All six patients were discharged home in their pre-critical illness state. None ofthe patients suffered complications from this therapy and had excellent resolution ofcardiopulmonary collapse. The IVC filter placement prevented further major embolic events while the PTE resolved with anticoagulation. An IVC filter should be considered as an adjunct to anticoagulation therapy for those patients with massive PE and cardiopulmonary instability who are not candidates for thrombolysis, and acute pulmonary embolectomy is not readily available or is of very high risk.

No abstract

No abstract