Safety of Symptom-Based Modification of Physical Therapy Interventions in Pediatric Oncology Patients With and Without Low Blood Counts

The Italian Consensus Conference on the role of rehabilitation for children and adolescents with leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and bone cancer, part 2: general principles for the rehabilitation treatment of motor function impairments

In Italy, 1400 children and 800 adolescents are diagnosed with cancer every year. About 80% of them can be cured but are at high risk of experiencing severe side effects, many of which respond to rehabilitation treatment. Due to the paucity of literature on this topic, the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology organized a Consensus Conference on the role of rehabilitation of motor impairments in children/adolescents affected by leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and bone cancer to state recommendations to improve clinical practice. This paper includes the consensus on the rehabilitation of children and adolescents with these cancers.

Association Between Laboratory Values and Adverse Events in Adults Post-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant During and After Rehabilitation

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between adverse events (AEs) and critical events (CEs) during and after rehabilitation in cancer patients post-hemopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) or bone marrow transplant (BMT) and to identify whether particular laboratory values are associated with increased risk of AEs or CEs.

DESIGN

A retrospective chart review (2012-2017) of hospitalized patients ages 18-75 years who received a diagnosis of cancer and BMT or HSCT receiving rehabilitation services SETTING: Urban Midwest tertiary, research and academic hospital.

PARTICIPANTS

In total, 99 hospitalized adults with HSCT or BMT participated in 300 rehabilitation sessions.

INTERVENTIONS

Physical or occupational therapy using a symptom-based approach in which patient symptoms were monitored and therapy was adjusted in real time MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Incidence of AEs or CEs occurring during or within 48 hours of rehabilitation.

RESULTS

A total of 300 rehabilitation sessions were carried out where 99.7% had 1 or more laboratory values outside reference range. In only 3.3% of therapy sessions an AE occurred during or within 2 hours of rehabilitation. Within 48 hours postrehabilitation, AEs occurred in 22.3% and CEs in 4%. No laboratory value was significantly associated with increased risk of AEs or CEs during rehabilitation. A hemoglobin <8.0 g/dL conferred an increased risk of AEs (odds ratio [OR], 2.85-6.89) depending on timeframe analyzed and overall risk of CE (OR, 3.75). Lower hemoglobin levels (<7.5 g/dL and <7.0 g/dL) did not increase this risk. Low platelets (<25 k/μL) increased the risk of AEs on day 1, 2 and overall (OR, 2.5-2.72) and overall risk of CEs (OR, 6.62).

CONCLUSIONS

Our research demonstrates a low rate of AEs and CEs during or within 2 hours of rehabilitation but supports the need to monitor patients when hemoglobin is <8 g/dL or platelets are <25 k/μL due to the increased risk of events.

Occupational Therapy: An Essential Component of Support for Young Children With Cancer

We established a multidisciplinary early childhood clinic to support infants and toddlers receiving cancer treatment. The access to occupational therapy (OT) in this population is unknown. To describe the access to OT for infants and toddlers with cancer. We retrospectively reviewed medical records to determine the frequency and characteristics of children with cancer who were referred to OT. Demographic data, medical information, and frequency of referrals were extracted from September 2015 to September 2018. Of the 134 patients, 112 (83.6%) received an OT evaluation: 88.4% were referred for hospital-based OT services; 42.0% were recommended for services upon returning home. Between-group comparisons revealed significant differences in referrals for home- or community-based OT services based on age and disease. OT is crucial to treatment plans that address the developmental needs of young pediatric oncology patients during hospitalization and thereafter. Recommendations for monitoring this vulnerable population are provided.