INTRODUCTION: Mortality rate for childhood acute leukemia is an indicator of access to and efficacy of health services. Analysis of this indicator allows the identification of factors contributing to the development of the illness and the final condition of affected children. OBJECTIVE: The operative experience results were described from data obtained by committee of analysis of institutional mortality by childhood acute leukaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formal reports of deaths in children under 15 due to acute lymphoblastic or myeloid leukemia were provided to the National Cancer Institute of Colombia. A descriptive analysis of these reports from the period 2008-2010 was undertaken by the National Cancer Institute. Avoidability analysis was performed using the 1994 "three delays" model of Thaddeus and Maine. RESULTS: Of 24 deaths analyzed, 21 were caused by acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The median age was 10.5 years. The delay 3 (get adequate and timely treatment) was identified in 83% of the cases and transfers during treatment were the most common limitation (66.7%). 83.3% of deaths were deemed unavoidable given the clinical conditions of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the delays identified did not affect mortality in a direct way, they did nonetheless constitute the basis for improvements to the quality of attention to children with cancer.
INTRODUCTION: Mortality rate for childhood acute leukemia is an indicator of access to and efficacy of health services. Analysis of this indicator allows the identification of factors contributing to the development of the illness and the final condition of affected children. OBJECTIVE: The operative experience results were described from data obtained by committee of analysis of institutional mortality by childhood acute leukaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Formal reports of deaths in children under 15 due to acute lymphoblastic or myeloid leukemia were provided to the National Cancer Institute of Colombia. A descriptive analysis of these reports from the period 2008-2010 was undertaken by the National Cancer Institute. Avoidability analysis was performed using the 1994 "three delays" model of Thaddeus and Maine. RESULTS: Of 24 deaths analyzed, 21 were caused by acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The median age was 10.5 years. The delay 3 (get adequate and timely treatment) was identified in 83% of the cases and transfers during treatment were the most common limitation (66.7%). 83.3% of deaths were deemed unavoidable given the clinical conditions of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the delays identified did not affect mortality in a direct way, they did nonetheless constitute the basis for improvements to the quality of attention to children with cancer.