Réanimation et cancer du poumon

Abstract

When a lung cancer patient develops an organ failure, the intensity of care should be decided taking into account patient’s wishes and his plan of care keeping in mind that the objective an admission in intensive care unit (ICU) is to allow the patient to discharge from ICU and hospital with an acceptable quality of life. But the physician in charge of the patient at the time of acute disease often does not have these i nformations. It is therefore essential that the referring oncologist has had an early discussion with the patient to inform him and collect his opinion. These informations have to be noted in the patient’s medical chart. The prognostic criteria of lung cancer patients admitted in ICU are related to the patient’s characteristics, the cancer’s characteristics and the severity of acute disease. In order to a decision of admission in ICU in accordance with the therapeutic project of the patient, a close discussion between oncologist and intensivist is essential.