Primary brain tumor patients admitted to a US intensive care unit: a descriptive analysis.

ABSTRACT

Purpose: To describe our population of primary brain tumor (PBT) patients, a subgroup of cancer patients whose intensive care unit (ICU) outcomes are understudied. Methods: Retrospective analysis of PBT patients admitted to an ICU between 2013 to 2018 for an unplanned need. Using descriptive analyses, we characterized our population and their outcomes. Results: Fifty-nine PBT patients were analyzed. ICU mortality was 19% (11/59). The most common indication for admission was seizures (n = 16, 27%). Conclusion: Our ICU mortality of PBT patients was comparable to other solid tumor patients and the general ICU population and better than patients with hematological malignancies. Further study of a larger population would inform guidelines for triaging PBT patients who would most benefit from ICU-level care.

Lay abstract Purpose: Data are lacking regarding outcomes of patients with primary brain tumors (PBTs) admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU), which may it difficult for ICU providers to know who of these patients will best benefit from ICU-level care. We aimed to describe our patient population to contribute to the limited data. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of critically ill PBT patients in our ICU. Results: Of 59 patients analyzed, ICU mortality was 19% (11/59), and the most common indication for admission was seizures (n = 16, 27%). Conclusion: Our ICU mortality of PBT patients was comparable to other solid tumor patients and the general ICU population and better than patients with hematological malignancies.