Evaluation of an Outpatient Model for Treatment of Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Background: In January 2012, our center developed an ambulatory model for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients receiving post-induction chemotherapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of the outpatient leukemia program at our center.

Methods: A retrospective review of all consecutive AML patients receiving a first cycle of consolidation chemotherapy in the outpatient program in 2012 was compared to similarly managed patients primarily in the inpatient setting in 2010.

Results: The 2012 cohort spent more days as outpatients in comparison to the 2010 cohort (median (range): 15.5 (0 - 27) vs. 0 (0 - 10), days, P = 0.002). There was no difference between the two cohorts in terms of median overall observation time (time from start of chemotherapy until discharged to clinic), transfusion requirements, days spent neutropenic or days spent febrile. There were no documented episodes of Clostridium difficile, clinically significant bleeding, venous thromboembolism, or death in either cohort.

Conclusions: Outpatient management of AML patients receiving post-induction chemotherapy was feasible in this group of carefully selected individuals, liberating limited and costly inpatient resources for more appropriate patients.




J Hematol. 2016;5(1):1-7
doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.14740/jh235w