Contemporary review of critical illness following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant in adults.

Abstract

Significant advancements have been made in the care of the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HCT) recipient. However, they remain one of the most vulnerable groups of patients who may be admitted to the ICU. On the one hand, they have been administered treatment with the goal of achieving cure for their underlying disease, yet their unique immunocompromised trajectory and treatment-associated toxicities continue to challenge the intensivist from a diagnostic and management perspective. While infectious disease, allogeneic HCT and critical care research have improved outcomes, there remain significant areas to advance critical care management to further increase the likelihood of bridging to an acceptable quality of life. This review focuses on care of the critically ill patient undergoing allogeneic HCT for hematologic malignancies, critical care conditions that may arise, contemporary practices in their management, and areas to focus future research.