Take Home Points on 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. Be suspicious of this syndrome in these patient’s when they present with the classic triad of mucosal bleeding, visual disturbances, and neurological symptoms or with any end organ failure.
- Tumor Lysis Syndrome results from high turnover of malignant cells resulting in severe metabolic derangements including hypocalcemia, hyperkalemia, hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, AKI, metabolic acidosis. Be suspicious of this in patients presenting with edema, hematuria, fatigue, weakness, altered mental status or symptoms that go along with specific metabolic derangement, particularly if they recently received chemotherapy, radiation or high dose steroids.
REBEL Core Cast 7.0 – Oncologic Emergencies
Click here for Direct Download of Podcast
References/Links:
- EM Cases: Best Case Ever 16: Oncologic Emergencies
- EM Cases: Episode 33: Oncologic Emergencies
- EMDocs.net: Hyperviscosity Syndrome
- LITFL: Tumour Lysis Syndrome
Post Peer Reviewed By: Salim R. Rezaie, MD (Twitter: @srrezaie)
The post REBEL Core Cast 7.0 – Oncologic Emergencies appeared first on REBEL EM - Emergency Medicine Blog.
