Mechanical ventilation in cancer patients. Analysis of clinical data and outcome.

Between 1984 and 1988, 49 medically treated cancer patients were ventilated in the intensive care unit (ICU) of our hospitals. The charts of these patients were analyzed retrospectively. Sixty-seven percent of patients died during ventilation; 24% were able to leave hospital. The remaining 9% were transferred from the ICU to the ward, but died shortly thereafter in hospital. Assessment of the severity of acute disease prior to intubation by means of the organ failure score or the APACHE-II score was strongly associated with outcome after ventilation.