The picture of oncologic emergencies in the intensive care unit has changed over the past decade. The classic emergencies, that is, superior vena cava syndrome, spinal cord compression, tumor lysis syndrome and life-threatening hypercalcemia, are now routinely managed on the general oncology unit or in an outpatient setting. Vigilant monitoring for early signs of complications, proactive interventions to prevent complications, and aggressive management account for this change. Currently, emergent conditions that necessitate intensive care unit admission or transfer in the patient with cancer include respiratory failure, cardiac emergencies, hemorrhagic events and coagulopathies, sepsis, and hemodynamic instability. This article will present the current evidence-based management of these conditions, a brief summary of classic oncologic emergencies, and the role of the critical care nurse in meeting the multidimensional needs of the patient and family during the life-threatening episode, based on Ferrell’s quality of life model.
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1 October 2011
Symposium Current Care and Perspectives of the Critically Ill Cancer Patient|
October 01 2011
Oncologic Emergencies: New Decade, New Perspectives
Regan Demshar, RN, MSN;
Regan Demshar, RN, MSN
Regan Demshar is Advanced Practice Nurse, University Hospitals Case Medical Center/Seidman Cancer Center, 11000 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106 (regan.demshar@uhhospitals.org). Rachel Vanek is Nurse Practitioner in the ICU, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. Polly Mazanec is Assistant Professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
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Rachel Vanek, MSN, ACNP-BC;
Rachel Vanek, MSN, ACNP-BC
Regan Demshar is Advanced Practice Nurse, University Hospitals Case Medical Center/Seidman Cancer Center, 11000 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106 (regan.demshar@uhhospitals.org). Rachel Vanek is Nurse Practitioner in the ICU, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. Polly Mazanec is Assistant Professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
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Polly Mazanec, PhD, ACNP-BC, AOCN
Polly Mazanec, PhD, ACNP-BC, AOCN
Regan Demshar is Advanced Practice Nurse, University Hospitals Case Medical Center/Seidman Cancer Center, 11000 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44106 (regan.demshar@uhhospitals.org). Rachel Vanek is Nurse Practitioner in the ICU, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio. Polly Mazanec is Assistant Professor, Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio.
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AACN Adv Crit Care (2011) 22 (4): 337–348.
Citation
Regan Demshar, Rachel Vanek, Polly Mazanec; Oncologic Emergencies: New Decade, New Perspectives. AACN Adv Crit Care 1 October 2011; 22 (4): 337–348. doi: https://doi.org/10.4037/NCI.0b013e318230112b
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