ABSTRACT
Oncology patients constitute a challenging subgroup of critical care patients. Besides sepsis, there are innumerable other causes or complications which can contribute to circulatory failure (3). It is imperative to find and treat these causes if oncology patients are to have their best chance of a good outcome. (They are dealt with in detail later in the chapter.) The hemodynamic care of these patients perioperatively is also greatly influenced by these unique oncology issues. Adding to the conundrum is the higher risk associated with invasive hemodynamic monitoring in these patients, who frequently experience marrow failure resulting in low platelet counts and neutropenia (6). The use of noninvasive hemodynamic monitors should therefore be of benefit to them.
