The Outcome of Haematological Malignancy in Scottish Intensive Care Units

To study the prognostic indicators and outcome in patients with haematological malignancy requiring intensive care, we identified 714 adult patients and analysed their clinical audit data. Mean APACHE II score was 24. Main admitting diagnoses were acute lymphoma (43%) and acute leukaemia (28%). There was a high requirement for acute organ support. Intensive care unit (ICU) mortality was 39% and hospital mortality 55%, with a standardised mortality rate of 1.05 (0.98–1.13). Factors predictive of outcome after multivariate analysis were: cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in the 24-hours before ICU admission, inotropic support in the first 24-hours, APACHE II score and requirement for ventilatory support immediately prior to, or at admission to the ICU. Neutropaenia was not an independent predictor. Patients with neutropaenic septic shock and multiorgan failure left hospital. Hospital mortality for this group is comparable to that of non-cancer patients admitted with multi-organ system failure. The reluctance to admit such patients to ICU may be unjustified.