Oncologic Emergencies
When the bad gets worse - Blake Briggs MD
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Oncologic Emergencies
Okay, so cancer is a broad, difficult topic that I will never be able to cover in one blog post...
These are not the only three cancer emergencies, but they are common and can be quickly life threatening. And what I think is really interesting is that, when you pay close enough attention, all three can be caught with just your basic labs: CBC, BMP and vitals.
Resources
When the bad gets worse: Oncologic Emergencies
Oncologic emergencies are a relatively common cause of mortality in malignancy, and therefore must be addressed urgently in coordination with Hem/Onc teams.
Multiple Myeloma Emergencies
Cord compression is the most important emergency diagnosis. The absence of neurologic symptoms does not preclude cord compression. The two most common causes of death in multiple myeloma patients are frequent infections, usually respiratory, and renal failure. Their disease process and medications make them immunocompromised.
An Urgent Care Approach to Malignancy Complications
The prevalence of cancer is increasing—and along with it, malignancy-associated complications. Early recognition and management of these conditions is vital to alleviating patient morbidity and maximizing quality of life.
Best Case Ever 16: Oncologic Emergencies
As a bonus to Episode 33 on oncologic emergencies, Dr. John Foote, the CCFP(EM) residency program director at the University of Toronto tells us about his Best Case Ever in which he missed an important cancer-related diagnosis.
Episode 33: Oncologic Emergencies
5 important presentations in the patient with cancer: fever, shortness of breath, altered mental status, back pain and acute renal failure; with specific attention to key cancer-related emergencies such as febrile neutropenia, hypercalcemia, superior vena cava syndrome, hyperviscosity syndrome and tumor lysis syndrome.
Neuro-Oncology Emergencies
Spinal cord compression is common, affecting ~5-10% of patients with cancer.
Oncologic Emergencies
Cancer patients are at risk for several life-threatening emergencies, including metabolic, cardiologic, neurologic, and infectious events. Many of these high-risk situations can be prevented or effectively managed if promptly recognized and urgently treated.
Oncologic Emergencies
This post is part of a series developed in preparation for participation in ACEP SimWars. It contains a review of several prominent emergency medicine topics which may be relevant for board preparation.
Oncologic Emergencies & Emerging Treatments
The oncologic revolution is upon us!
Oncologic Emergencies Part I: Pearls and Pitfalls
With the aging population in the U.S., the incidence of malignancy is increasing. Many patients with cancer present to EDs, and some of these presentations are uniquely related to the respective malignancy. These oncologic emergencies can be broken into four categories: local physical effects, biochemical effects, hematologic effects, and therapy effects.
Oncologic Emergencies—The Old, the New, and the Deadly
Oncologic emergencies can be seen as an initial presentation of the disease or precipitated by its treatment.
Pearl of the day - Managing Oncologic Emergencies
Metastatic spinal cord compression - Corticosteroids are first line. In most cases, give dexamethasone 10mg IV.
REBEL Core Cast 7.0 – Oncologic Emergencies
Hyperviscosity Syndrome happens when elevated WBCs or severe hyperproteinemia cause high serum viscosity and micro-circulatory problems in patients with Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia, multiple myeloma or acute leukemia.
Selected Oncologic Emergencies
Therapies continue to prolong life often with high risks of side effects, and emergency physicians need to be equipped to treat complications of this treatment and importantly cancer morbidity itself.
Oncologic Emergencies
Okay, so cancer is a broad, difficult topic that I will never be able to cover in one blog post. But we just had a very informative lecture by our very own, behind enemy lines, EM/IM master: the He-Gore. So I’ll touch on a few of the possible cancer related emergencies that he helpfully walked us through.
Comprehensive Oncologic Emergencies Research Network (CONCERN)
The Comprehensive Oncologic Emergencies Research Network (CONCERN) was established in March 2015 with the goal to accelerate knowledge generation, synthesis, and translation of oncologic emergency medicine research through multi-center collaborations.
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