Journal of critical care
-
Journal of critical care · Jun 2019
Case ReportsSuccessful treatment of abdominal compartment syndrome with chemotherapy in a patient with a newly diagnosed Burkitt lymphoma.
Mortality of patients treated on the intensive care unit suffering from cancer is high, especially when admitted with an unknown malignancy. Still, anti-tumor therapy in critically ill patients requiring mechanical ventilation is a clinical challenge. Over the last years, successful chemotherapy has been reported, even in critically ill patients with infections and organ failure. ⋯ By obtaining negative fluid balances closure of the abdomen succeeded 18 days after laparotomy. The patient was transferred to the normal ward without organ dysfunction on day 27 and discharged home after a second cycle of chemotherapy. In conclusion, aggressive treatment using chemotherapy in critically ill patients with initially unkown malignancy may be successful.