Article

Chemotherapy Extravasation: Establishing a National Benchmark for Incidence Among Cancer Centers

Jeannette Jackson-Rose

Judith Del Monte

Adrienne Groman

Linda S. Dial

Leah Atwell

Judy Graham

Rosemary O'Neil Semler

Maryellen O’Sullivan

Lisa Truini-Pittman

Terri Cunningham

Lisa Roman-Fischetti

Eileen Costantinou

Chris Rimkus

Adrienne J. Banavage

Barbara Dietz

Carol J. Colussi

Kimberly Catania

Michelle Wasko

Kevin A. Schreffler

Colleen West

Mary Lou Siefert

Robert David Rice

chemotherapy, extravasation, vesicant, irritant, venous access, cancer program quality
CJON 2017, 21(4), 438-445. DOI: 10.1188/17.CJON.438-445

Background: Given the high-risk nature and nurse sensitivity of chemotherapy infusion and extravasation prevention, as well as the absence of an industry benchmark, a group of nurses studied oncology-specific nursing-sensitive indicators.

Objectives: The purpose was to establish a benchmark for the incidence of chemotherapy extravasation with vesicants, irritants, and irritants with vesicant potential.

Methods: Infusions with actual or suspected extravasations of vesicant and irritant chemotherapies were evaluated. Extravasation events were reviewed by type of agent, occurrence by drug category, route of administration, level of harm, follow-up, and patient referrals to surgical consultation.

Findings: A total of 739,812 infusions were evaluated, with 673 extravasation events identified. Incidence for all extravasation events was 0.09%.

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