Forastiere, E., Sofra, M., Giannarelli, D., Fabrizi, L., & Simone, G. (2008). Effectiveness of continuous wound infusion of 0.5% ropivacaine by On-Q pain relief system for postoperative pain management after open nephrectomy. British Journal of Anaesthesia, 101(6), 841–847.
To compare, after open nephrectomy, the efficacy of continuous wound site infusion with ropivacaine with that of saline; to examine morphine consumption, side effects, bowel function, and hospital length of stay in two study arms
Patients received continuous surgical wound site infusion of either 0.5% ropivacaine or 0.9% saline. For breakthrough pain, all patients received standard care with PCA morphine and ketorolac.
Prospective randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled study
Continuous wound infusion with ropivacaine improved pain relief and accelerated recovery and discharge.
A single surgeon peformed all procedures and placed all catheters. Because of the various locations of nociceptive receptors, this makes generalizing study findings questionable; placement of catheters for local infusion relates to results.
Multimodal pain management that includes continuous wound infusion of anesthetic and systemic opioid can reduce postoperative pain, thereby reducing length of stay and hospitalization costs.
Fong, S.S., Ng, S.S., Luk, W.S., Chung, J.W., Ho, J.S., Ying, M., & Ma, A.W. (2014). Effects of qigong exercise on upper limb lymphedema and blood flow in survivors of breast cancer: A pilot study. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 13, 54–61.
To investigate the effects of qigong exercises on upper extremity lymphedema, arterial resistance, and blood flow velocity in breast cancer survivors
Experimental group performed approximately six minutes of the 18 forms tai chi qigong exercises, and the control group rested.
There was an immediate circumferential decrease and blood flow resistance decrease, with increase in blood flow velocity in the experimental group. However, no girth changes between groups may indicate only temporary effects.
More rigorous randomized, controlled studies are needed to confirm the effects of this exercise.
Nurses should encourage limb movement and range of motion exercises for breast cancer survivors.
Fong, D.Y., Ho, J.W., Hui, B.P., Lee, A.M., Macfarlane, D.J., Leung, S.S., . . . Cheng, K.K. (2012). Physical activity for cancer survivors: Meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials. BMJ, 344, e70.
STUDY PURPOSE: To evaluate the evidence regarding the effects of physical activity in cancer survivors
TYPE OF STUDY: Meta-analysis and systematic review
PHASE OF CARE: Late effects and survivorship
The median duration of the exercise intervention was 13 weeks (range = 3–60). A meta-analysis of results for body mass index, body weight, and other physiologic measures was reported. A meta-analysis was completed for three studies regarding effect on fatigue, and slightly reduced fatigue was demonstrated using the Piper Fatigue Scale (p = 0.03). However, sample sizes were small in these studies. A meta-analysis of effects on depression included four studies and showed reduced depression using the Beck Depression Inventory (p < 0.01). Three of the four studies had relatively small sample sizes. Quality of life outcomes showed improved Short Form-36 physical functioning scores (p = 0.01) and mental health scores (p = 0.01). The authors noted substantially different results based on the measurement scales used in the included studies.
This analysis supports the effectiveness of exercise in general on cancer-related fatigue and depression.
It was suggested that the intensity of the exercise could affect results, and intensity was not consistently reported in the studies included. The mean duration of the intervention was as high as 13 weeks and as low as three weeks. The relatively short duration limits the ability to assess long-term outcomes. Most studies were completed in patients with breast cancer. There were very few studies in the analysis, and it was surprising that more studies were not found for inclusion. The studies of fatigue and depression included in this meta-analysis had relatively small sample sizes.
This report adds to the already large body of evidence demonstrating that exercise can improve fatigue and depression outcomes in cancer survivors. Current evidence, however, involves relatively short-term interventions and assessments. For long-term benefits, it is generally believed that physical activity needs to be incorporated into everyday life. Nursing interventions and future research should consider the examination of approaches to address this need for ongoing behavior change. Most exercise studies continue to involve women with breast cancer. Although there is some evidence in other groups, it is limited. Continued research to examine exercise's effects in more varied patients would be beneficial.
Focht, B.C., Clinton, S.K., Devor, S.T., Garver, M.J., Lucas, A.R., Thomas-Ahner, J.M., & Grainger, E. (2013). Resistance exercise interventions during and following cancer treatment: A systematic review. Journal of Supportive Oncology, 11, 45–60.
Pertaining to fatigue outcomes, two randomized, controlled design studies showed insignificant changes in fatigue with BRCA survivors. One nonrandomized trial showed insignificant change in patients with prostate cancer. Two randomized, controlled studies showed moderate to large effect sizes in patients with BRCA and prostate cancer patients over time after three and six months. Large effects were seen in the Schmidt study with BRCA survivors. A moderate effect was seen in the Segal study of patients with prostate cancer receiving androgen deprivation therapy. Small effect sizes were seen in BRCA patients undergoing chemotherapy at a midpoint and post-treatment.
The results of this study suggested that RE may improve fatigue in patients with BRCA undergoing chemotherapy, patients with prostate cancer undergoing androgen deprivation therapy, and in BRCA survivors.
Although methodologic quality was good overall, an increase of intent-to-treat analyses of future randomized, controlled trials is needed.
Few studies examined this type of exercise, and additional study is indicated.
Fobair, P., Koopman, C., DiMiceli, S., O'Hanlan, K., Butler, L. D., Classen, C., . . . Spiegel, D. (2002). Psychosocial intervention for lesbians with primary breast cancer. Psychooncology, 11, 427–438.
The intervention included twelve 90-minute meetings of a supportive-expressive group therapy led by a licensed clinical social worker; participants discussed problems, coping, treatment, mood, self-efficacy, relationships, pain, sleep, body image, and sexuality. Outcomes were emotional distress, mood, self-efficacy, body image, sexuality, social support, quality of life (QOL), pain, and sleep.
Three community settings in Northern California
Patients were undergoing the active treatment phase of care.
The study used a one-group, pre-/posttest design.
Brief questionnaire based on the Structured Insomnia Interview to assess quality and quantity of sleep and daytime sleepiness
Patients undergoing 12 weeks of supportive group therapy showed statistically significant improvement in sleep (less waking during the night).
Fluhr, J.W., Miteva, M., Primavera, G., Ziemer, M., Elsner, P., & Berardesca, E. (2007). Functional assessment of a skin care system in patients on chemotherapy. Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, 20, 253–259.
To evaluate the effectiveness of concomitant treatment with a cleanser (slight acidic washing) and a slightly acidic emollient (both pH 5.5) in improving symptoms of xerosis in patients receiving chemotherapy.
This study was conducted at Friedrich-Schiller University in Jena, Germany, and at Istituto Dermatologico San Gallicano in Rome, Italy.
This was a controlled, monocentric, three-week treatment trial.
Concomitant treatment with a cleanser (slight acidic washing) and a slightly acidic emollient (both pH 5.5) was effective in improving symptoms of xerosis in patients receiving chemotherapy.
Flores, I.Q., & Ershler, W. (2009). Managing neutropenia in older patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy in a community setting. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 14, 81–86.
The purpose of the study was to compare the use of pegfilgratim in all chemotherapy cycles with pegfilgrastim use at the clinician’s discretion for the reduction of febrile neutropenia, grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, dose delay, dose reduction, hospitalization, antibiotic use, and infections in older adults with cancer.
Study period was June 2002 to Nov 2004.
Older adults with cancer of the breast, ovary, lung, or aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) were randomized to pegfilgrastim (subcutaneous injection 6 mg one time per cycle 24 hours after chemotherapy completion staring with cycle one) or secondary prophylaxis with pegfilgrastim (subcutaneous injection 6 mg one time per cycle 24 hours after chemotherapy completion staring after cycle one at physician’s discretion [discretion may be in response to severe neutropenia, netropenia-related events during chemotherapy, dose delays, dose reductions, or no changes in dose or timing]).
Phase IV, open-label, randomized, multicenter, community-based trial
701 patients with solid tumors. Fifteen were excluded, making the sample size 686 (343 in the pegfilgrastim arm, 343 in the physician discretion arm). Those who completed the study in each arm was 198 in the pegfilgrastim arm and 175 in the physician discretion arm. Forty-two percent of patients in the discretion arm received pegfilgrastim, most often for grade 3 or 4 neutropenia. There were 151 patients with NHL. Five were excluded, making the sample size 146 (73 in the pegfilgrastim arm, 73 in the physician discretion arm). Thirty-eight patients in each arm completed the study. In the discretion arm, 64% received pegfilgratim.
Febrile neutropenia was lower in the all-cycle pegfilgrastim arm compared to the discretion arm, with a 60% reduction in incidence of febrile neutropenia for patients with solid tumors (p = 0.001) and 59% reduction of febrile neutropenia for patients with NHL (p = 0.004). Grade 4 febrile neutropenia was 22% for patients with solid tumors and 75% for patients with NHL in the all-cycle pegfilgrastim arm compared to 58% for patients with solid tumors and 86% for patients with NHL in the discretion arm. Rates of febrile neutropenia in the first cycle for patients with solid tumors were 3%, and 7% for NHL patients in the all-cycle pegfilgrastim arm compared to 7% for solid tumors and 25% for NHL patients in the discretion arm.
Overall, for patients with solid tumors, the all-cycle pegfilgrastim arm had lower rates of grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, dose delays, dose reductions, decreased hospitalizations, and decreased antibiotic use compared to the discretion arm; and similarly for patients with NHL with the exceptions of higher rates of dose delay and dose reductions in the all-cycle pegfilgrastim arm. None of these findings were statistically significant.
The most serious adverse event related to pegfilgrastim use was bone pain (12%) in the solid tumor group and in the NHL group (9%) for those receiving all-cycle pegfilgrastim compared to 5% and 4%, respectively, for the discretion arm.
Pegfilgrastin use in older adults undergoing chemotherapy for cancer of the lung, breast, or ovary, or for NHL is safe and effective with use starting in the first cycle for the reduction of febrile neutropenia, grade 3 or 4 neutropenia, febrile neutropenia-related hospitalizations, and antibiotic use. Dose delay and dose reduction were shown to be increased for patients with NHL who received pegfilgrastin at all cycles compared to physician discretion, which may be due to increased use of pegfilgrastin through physician discretion in this population. In addition, due to the use of pegfilgrastin by physician discretion as the comparison group and the unknown information about frequency of dosing in the discretion arm outside of the majority beginning pegfilgrastin treatment following a grade 3 or 4 febrile neutropenic event, coupled with limited statistically significant outcomes, it is difficult to have a definitive conclusion based on these findings. Clinically, however, the outcomes do appear favorable towards use of pegfilgrastin beginning with the first cycle.
The administration of pegfilgrastin starting with the first cycle of chemotherapy may reduce neutropenic events and related complications in older adults with cancer. Nurses can be at the forefront of advocating for this therapy, administering it, and monitoring patients for effective outcomes and/or adverse events.
Flieger, D., Klassert, C., Hainke, S., Keller, R., Kleinschmidt, R., & Fischback, W. (2007). Phase II clinical trial for prevention of delayed diarrhea with cholestyramine/levofloxacin in the second-line treatment with irinotecan biweekly in patients with metastatic colorectal carcinoma. Oncology, 72(1–2), 10–16.
Patients receiving 250 mg/m2 IV irinotecan over 90 minutes every two weeks were given 500 mg levofloxacin tablets once at 8 pm and 4 g cholestyramine three times per day (not together with other medications) beginning the day before chemotherapy to day +1. Patients with acute cholinergic syndrome, abdominal cramping, and early diarrhea, were given 0.25-1 mg IV atropine. Patients experiencing delayed diarrhea were offered loperaminde.
This was a phase II trial.
Combination cholestyramine and levofloxacin is a promising option for prevention of delayed diarrhea caused by irinotecan and may help to escalate the dose of irinotecan in the future.
Fletcher, D.S., Coyne, P.J., Dodson, P.W., Parker, G.G., Wan, W., & Smith, T.J. (2014). A randomized trial of the effectiveness of topical "ABH Gel" (Ativan®, Benadryl®, Haldol®) versus placebo in cancer patients with nausea. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 48(5), 797–803.
To determine the effectiveness of ABH gel (containing Ativan®, Benadryl®, and Haldol®) on chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) in patients with cancer
A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover, noninferiority clinical trail
In total, 22 patients enrolled in the study. However, 20 patients completed both arms (treatment and placebo) as a crossover. In the results section, the researcher listed three important findings: the mean change in the nausea score from baseline to 60 minutes post-treatment in both groups was not statistically significant; the ABH gel was not topically absorbed well even four hours after application; and almost 67% of the study patients stated that treatment was not effective in relieving symptoms.
The researchers concluded that the ABH gel in its current formulation should not be used for patients with cancer.
The same authors also demonstrated similar results in healthy volunteers in their previously published study in the May 2012 issue of the same journal titled “ABH Gel is not Absorbed From the Skin of Normal Volunteers,” which found that ABH gel is not absorbed well topically. In that study, lorazepam and Haldol® were almost undetectable in the blood samples of healthy study subjects; in other words, the plasma samples indicated that ABH gel was clinically or therapeutically insignificant. Therefore, ABH gel in its current formulation should not be used in patients with cancer.
Flerlage, J.E., & Baker, J.N. (2015). Methylnaltrexone for opioid-induced constipation in children and adolescents and young adults with progressive incurable cancer at the end of life. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 18, 631–633.
To describe the use of methylnaltrexone (MNTX) in pediatric patients with cancer in both inpatient and outpatient settings
A retrospective chart review was conducted on all children, adolescents, and young adults with incurable cancer treated at St. Jude Hospital from May 2008 to June 2013. Pharmacy data and chart data were reviewed for inclusion data. Patients had documented OIC and the administration of enteral preparations and/or suppositories to treat OIC. After standard therapy for OIC was not successful, MNTX was administered subcutaneously at 0.15 mg/kg per dose.
MNTX administration produced bowel function in seven (78%) of the patients in one hour and with five (71%) of the patients having a response to first dose. With repeated dosing, 71% had continued response. There were no side effects documented. Two patients responded to repeated doses. The drug was effective in four of five patients with intra-abdominal disease.
The study revealed that MNTX can be safe and effective in children, adolescents, and young adults with OIC and end-of-life disease.
OIC is a distressing side effect of opioid pain management. The use of MNTX in pediatric patients with cancer with progressive disease appears to be an effective and safe in this retrospective audit, but prospective randomized clinical trials are required.