Admission Complaints and Results of Patients with Solid Organ Malignancy Who Were Applied to the Emergency Internal Medicine Department

Aim: In parallel with the increase in the prevalence of cancer, it is inevitable that the frequency of cancer patients presenting to the emergency department will also increase. The aim of this study was to analyze the primary diagnoses, treatments and outcomes of patients with solid organ malignancy admitted to the emergency internal medicine polyclinic. Material and Methods: Patients with solid organ malignancy who were admitted to Cerrahpaşa Emergency Internal Medicine Polyclinic between 01.06.2009-31.05.2010 and whose examinations were completed and a conclusion was reached were included in this prospective observational study. Results: There were a total of 1316 admissions of 930 patients. Among the patients 353(26.8%) were followed up for lung cancer, 161(12.2%) for breast cancer, and 124(11.9%) for colorectal cancer. 511(38.8%), 369(28%) and 266(20.2%) of the admissions were due to shortness of breath, fatigue and fever, respectively. Treatment of 596(45.2%) patients evaluated in emergency polyclinic and discharged; 348(26.4%) were referred to medical oncology polyclinic; 186(14.1%) were hospitalized; 123(9.3%) were admitted to intensive care unit; 30(2.2%) left the emergency department voluntarily during their treatment; 22(1.6%) were transferred to the emergency surgery polyclinic and 3(0.2%) died in the emergency internal medicine polyclinic during their treatment. Conclusion: Increasing emergency admissions in cancer patients with increasing life expectancy necessitates training of healthcare personnel and re-organization of emergency units in this direction. In addition, the creation of separate units with appropriate equipment and space for the care and treatment of these patients for both acute problems and end- stage care may improve the service provided.