title: Level of adherence to an extravasation protocol over 10 years in a tertiary care hospital.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Extravasation of chemotherapy is an undesirable complication related to the administration of antineoplastic therapy. Establishing the real incidence is difficult. Because of the importance of a quick intervention after an extravasation, every hospital should have an extravasation protocol.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of observance of an extravasation protocol by nursing staff and to determine extravasation incidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive, longitudinal, retrospective study was set in a tertiary-level hospital. The researchers reviewed 117 extravasation notification forms received by the pharmacy department during a 10-year period. Nursing actuation, particularly observance of the extravasation protocol, was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Protocol adherence was 89%. Twelve deviations from the protocol in the application of recommended measures were detected. An antidote was used in 41 patients, and temperature measures were applied in 14 cases. Ninety-nine patients had at least one episode of reported follow-up. No cases of necrosis or skin ulcers were described, except by one patient, who developed a delayed skin ulcer to vinorelbine. Drugs most frequently reported were etoposide, carboplatin, and paclitaxel. Nursing staff should be continuously trained in extravasation protocol because a rapid actuation can prevent skin lesions.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Molas-Ferrer
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Elisabet
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Farré-Ayuso
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: doPazo-Oubiña
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: deAndrés-Lázaro
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guell-Picazo
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Borrás-Maixenchs
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Corominas-Bosch
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Montserrat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valverde-Bosch
authors.affiliation: Hospital Clinic of Barcelona in Spain.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Creus-Baró
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000451:nursing*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013030:Spain; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: antineoplastic drugs; chemotherapy; extravasation protocol; oncology nursing