APACHE-II - PREDICTION OF OUTCOME OF 451-ICU ONCOLOGY ADMISSIONS IN A COMMUNITY-HOSPITAL

The APACHE II system has been shown to be a reliable and useful means of evaluating patient outcome from the intensive care unit when applied to a broad spectrum of diagnoses. The major purpose of this study was to determine the use of APACHE II as a means of predicting outcome of ICU oncology patients. Data were retrospectively collected for 451 ICU oncology admissions. A direct relationship between severity of physiologic derangement and patient risk of death was demonstrated. Patients with scores of 30 or greater had hospital mortality rates of 100% for postoperative and 92.6% for nonoperative patients. The APACHE II was a useful means of predicting the outcome of ICU oncology patients. This potentially provides the patient, family, and physician an objective dimension in making decisions whether to transfer the oncology patient.