Guideline summary: Intensive care admission, treatment and discharge of critically ill haemato-oncological patients

Haemato-oncological patients are often treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) because of severity of disease and treatmentrelated side effects. This guideline aims to provide advice for the admission and treatment of haemato-oncological patients in the ICU, in order to improve the quality of care. It is important not to postpone ICU treatment and once admitted a multidisciplinary evaluation of the clinical condition should take place after the first couple of days of ICU support. Furthermore, to facilitate information handover it is recommended to use a checklist at admission. Timing of endotracheal intubation is discussed, using a decision model. Optimal care includes a daily multidisciplinary meeting, specific criteria for transfusion, antibiotic prophylaxis and treatment and use of selective digestive decontamination or selective oral decontamination. A bronchoalveolar lavage does not result in a significantly higher intubation rate, but frequently provides a new diagnosis. It is also advised to use a checklist at ICU discharge and to provide an option for early consultation of the ICU or an ICU liaison nurse, in order to prevent complications after discharge.