Acute Respiratory Failure in Patients with Hematologic Malignancies.

Acute respiratory failure occurs in up to 50% of patients treated for hematologic malignancies and is associated with a high case fatality rate. Because of residual organ dysfunction and time spent receiving respiratory care, underlying disease control is affected. Early admission to an intensive care unit for acute respiratory failure has proven benefit because it is the best place for rapid implementation of noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This article reviews the clinical approach and diagnostic strategies for acute respiratory failure in patients with hematologic malignancies.