Summary
Outcome of critically ill haematological patients in the intensive care unit has substantially improved during the past decades, with current estimates for intensive care unit survival of 70–75% and one-year survival of 40–45%. Based on new insights, the approach towards critically ill haematological patients is changing, with a focus on early recognition of deteriorating patients in the ward and early referral to the intensive care unit when necessary. Broad admission policies should become the standard, with regular re-assessment of the level of care administered, relative to survival expectations and burden for the patient and family. Close collaboration and communication between attending intensivists and referring haematologists with complementary skills is essential to provide good quality of care, be it either achieving short- and long-term survival and good quality of life, or timely withdrawal of aggressive therapy and institution of appropriate comfort care.
(BELG J HEMATOL 2016; 7(3):112–7)
