The lung cancer patient at the emergency department: A three-year retrospective study
Introduction
Cancer patients can have multiple complications related to cancer and its treatment [1], [2], [3]. These events may lead them to the emergency department [4], [5], [6], [7], [8]. A recent systematic review on the topic has been reported [9]. There is so far no specific study for lung cancer patients.
The aim of the present study was to determine the rate of lung cancer patients using the emergency department, to report the various reasons for consultation and their relative frequency and to identify predictive factors for admission and death during hospitalisation.
Section snippets
Patients and methods
We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of all patients with lung cancer presenting to the emergency department of a European cancer hospital, between January 1st 2008 and December 31st 2010. The study was approved by the local ethical committee.
All patients consulting at the emergency department were prospectively recorded and the data were retrospectively retrieved from the computerized charts. For each patient, age, gender, comorbid conditions (chronic obstructive pulmonary
Results
During the study period, there were 6575 visits at the emergency department. A total of 548 (8.3%) dealt with lung cancer (269 patients). The median number of consultations per patient was 2 (range 1–9). During the same period of time, 619 patients with lung cancer were followed in the Thoracic Oncology Unit, which means that 43% of these patients visited at least once the emergency department.
There were 169 men and 100 women, with a median age of 61 years (range 29–86). Histology included 232
Discussion
Our study shows that about 40% of lung cancer patients are consulting at the emergency department at least once during the course of their disease. The main reasons of consultation are respiratory symptoms and fever. A relationship with lung cancer or its treatment is found in more than 65% and emergency visit leads to hospital admission in more than 60% of the cases. Arrival by ambulance is the principal predictive factor for hospitalisation and death during hospitalisation.
A few studies have
Conflict of interest statement
None declared.
References (18)
- et al.
Oncologic emergencies: diagnosis and treatment
Mayo Clin Proc
(2006) - et al.
Oncological emergency admissions to the Norfolk and Norwich university Hospital: an audit of current arrangements and patient satisfaction
Clin Oncol
(2009) - et al.
A prospective study of infections in lung cancer patients admitted to the hospital
Chest
(2003) - et al.
Pulmonary infections in lung cancer patients at diagnostic
Lung Cancer
(1994) - et al.
End-of-life care in lung cancer patients in Ontario: aggressiveness of care in the population and a description of hospital admissions
J Pain Symptom Manage
(2008) - et al.
Complications aiguës des cancers broncho-pulmonaires primitifs
Rev Prat
(2003) - et al.
Oncological emergencies
Ann Oncol
(2004) - et al.
Why do patients with cancer visit the emergency department near the end of life?
CMAJ
(2010) - et al.
Demographics, clinical presentations and outcomes of cancer patients admitted to the emergency department
Turk J Med Sci
(2009)
Cited by (25)
Subtle oncological emergencies: Nature of illness, clinical characteristics, and outcomes
2022, International Emergency NursingCitation Excerpt :A recent study that examined oncological emergencies’ presenting complaints reported that most patients presented with non-specific complaints like pain, nausea, vomiting, weakness, dyspnea, and fever [17]. On the other hand, despite the frequent visit by cancer patients to the ED, they can be a minority in the total number of emergency visitors [12,18,19]. Further, cancer patients suffer a wide range of cancer diseases and can present a variety of disease-specific complications.
Urgences oncologiques
2021, Revue des Maladies Respiratoires ActualitesCancer related emergencies with the chief complaint of pain: Incidence, ED recognition, and quality of care
2021, International Emergency NursingCitation Excerpt :However, pain associated with oncological emergencies can be the precursor of urgency because it is the chief complaint among patients admitted with the oncological emergencies [27]. On the other hand, cancer pain is always described as a vague pain, which may not receive proper triage urgency, especially when the pain is not severe and if the triage nurse relates it to palliative and hospice concerns [28–30]. In this study, we proposed the opposite and associated cancer pain with the development of life-threatening oncological emergencies in which the patients were supposed to receive a prompt ED treatment.
Reprint of: Emergency room management of patients with lung cancer and organ failure
2019, Journal Europeen des Urgences et de ReanimationEmergency room management of patients with lung cancer and organ failure
2019, Revue des Maladies RespiratoiresLung Cancer Emergencies
2018, IASLC Thoracic Oncology