Self-reported symptom experience of critically ill cancer patients receiving intensive care

Abstract

Among critically ill cancer patients, multiple distressing symptoms were common in the ICU, often at significant levels of severity. Symptom assessment may suggest more effective strategies for symptom control and may direct decisions about appropriate use of ICU therapies.

Has survival increased in cancer patients admitted to the ICU? We are not sure

“…At the end of the day, the question remains how we can move forward at the bedside to integrate these results into a genuine decision-making process so as to maintain or even improve long-term outcome in these patients without only prolonging the dying process? Indeed, the reality of physical and emotional suffering of critically ill cancer patients [9] and their relatives [10] cannot remain unrecognized.…”

Critical care management of lung cancer patients to prolong life without prolonging dying

“…Furthermore, the main reasons for ICU admission are severe acute complications related to the cancer treatments or cancer itself, indicating that patients with severe co-morbidities are considered poor candidates for ICU admission. It should be borne in mind that the ICU experience generates its own physical, functional and emotional burdens [15,16]. In a study of non-cancer ARDS patients, survivors lost 18% of their baseline body weight during the ICU stay, experienced severe muscle weakness and fatigue, and had persistent functional disability 1 year after ICU discharge [16].…”

“…Roques et al provide valuable information on ICU survivors, about which little was known until now [7,15]. There is an urgent need for studying an array of outcomes that extends beyond ICU or hospital survival.…”

Content Validation of a Novel Screening Tool to Identify Emergency Department Patients With Significant Palliative Care Needs

“…1 For these patients, hospitalization is often characterized by unnecessary suffering from burdensome physical symptoms and psychological distress, as well as invasive interventions that are frequently incongruent with patient and caregiver wishes. 2,3 Palliative care (PC) has emerged as the specialty that seeks to support and care for patients with advanced illness.…”