Short- and Long-Term Outcomes of Hematologic Malignancy Patients After Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: Experience of a Large Oncology Center

Purpose: The objective of this study is to describe characteristics and short- and long-term outcomes of patients with hematologic malignancies who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of all Code Blues at a large comprehensive cancer center. Demographic, clinical, and outcome variables were analyzed for patients with a hematologic malignancy who underwent CPR. Results: Of 258 patients, 60.1% had leukemia. Outcomes included return of spontaneous circulation (70.2%), hospital survival (12%), and 90-day, 6-month, and 1-year survival rates of 9.8%, 8.2%, and 5.9%, respectively. Factors associated with hospital mortality included establishing a do not resuscitate order after CPR (p < .0001), location of CPR (p = .0004), cause of arrest (p = .0019), requiring vasopressors (p = .0130), mechanical ventilation (p = .0423), and acute renal failure post CPR (p = .0006). Although no difference in hospital survival between leukemia and non-leukemia patients was found, more non-leukemia patients were alive at 90 days (p = .0099), 6 months (p = .0023), and 1 year (p = .0119). Conclusions: Factors including organ dysfunction, location of CPR, and cause of arrest are associated with hospital mortality post CPR. However, immediate survival post CPR does not seem to be affected by a diagnosis of leukemia. These data should assist health care providers with discussions regarding advance care planning and goals of care after cardiac arrest.