Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

Juliet Drummond DAVN (med) RVN D32/33 — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 23:22:16 GMT

[quote user="Susan Jackson RVN MBVNA"]

Found it but not sure I can link it here. I'll try but not sure how. If anyone can help that would be great. Thanks

Go to ECVIM-CA (European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Companian A

nimals) on line. Click on the 'Guidlines' on the left hand side. Then there's a link to the booklet. Will warn you it's 31 pages long but it has everything in it.

[/quote]

thanks thats really useful

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

FINNIGAN — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:45:12 GMT

mentioned all this to head nurse and boss, new protocols bin put in to place, feel it should have been head nurse that should have brought this up but hey, its worked nonetheless, thanks guys

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

Steph Worsley — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 10:19:01 GMT

[quote user="dinkyd"]

Susan...think you have just hit the nail on the head......iv found many vns dont realise the safety issues around cytotoxic drugs most likely due to many vets just not bothering!

[/quote]

I agree, saying that even when i was in normal practice doing vinc/endoxana protocols i used to refuse to take part unless the vet was wearing PPE as well as myself, although having worked where i am now i realise how little we actually did!

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

dinkyd — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 08:59:13 GMT

Susan...think you have just hit the nail on the head......iv found many vns dont realise the safety issues around cytotoxic drugs most likely due to many vets just not bothering!

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

Susan Jackson — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 23:21:40 GMT

Found it but not sure I can link it here. I'll try but not sure how. If anyone can help that would be great. Thanks

Go to ECVIM-CA (European College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Companian Animals) on line. Click on the 'Guidlines' on the left hand side. Then there's a link to the booklet. Will warn you it's 31 pages long but it has everything in it.

Then have a look at MARCH (Management and Awareness of Risks of Cytotoxic Handling). It's for human chemotherapy but same applies. You will have to register - put myself in as nurse..... .... well it's half right!

Preds are cytotoxic which I didn't realise - started wearing my gloves in dispensary a lot more after learning that.

Before learing all this I used to be involved with some cats reciving chemo. Didn't think much of it cos the Vets weren't bothered.

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

Susan Jackson — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 22:46:32 GMT

Yes applies to all chemotherapy drugs.

Injectables are the worst and doxy is horrid. Vincristine seems to be the most common in practice.

Any tablets should be dosed whole and should not be split by owner or yourself and should wear gloves also.

Yes you should be worried with your protocols. There is a really good booklet on health and safety. I'll see if I can find it - need to dig out papers.

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

FINNIGAN — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 19:19:42 GMT

we have 3 patients on this we dont ahve a fume room, we wear gloves, aprons and goggles, are carefull of faeces and urine disposal, but thats it!!! now im worried,

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

Honeybadger — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 13:16:52 GMT

Does that apply to all Chemo drugs Susan or just doxorubicin?

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

dinkyd — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:34:13 GMT

My boy had dox as part of his chemo regime.....vet school were more than happy for us to do his vincristine and cyclophos in our practice but cos we didnt have a fume cupboard to prep it they wouldnt allow us to do this part of his tx.

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

Susan Jackson — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 19:23:38 GMT

Did about chemotherapy for my dissertation so I read up on all the health and safety for this and I will never do it in general practice without:

A fume cupboard and closed drawing up and giving sets: Most of the drug is breathed in by the handler. There was a study done of human nurses in oncology departments and they found chemotherapy drugs in their urine from just breathing in fumes. Those paper masks stop working after 15mins.

Chemotherapy gloves: normal latex gloves will not stop you from absorbing the drugs, there are special gloves that will for 2 hours max.

Chemotherapy clinical disposal and mop up kit: The waste requires the purple sharps container and disposal bags etc. The mop up kit because you never know.

Also should be done in room not well used as anyone using the room afterwards can potentially breath in the fumes. Esp if trying for children - chemotherapy drugs effect rapidly dividing cells, so you won't realise your pregnant but you won't get there either. So anyone thinking about trying to have babies should not be involved and are intitled to say no.

The practice needs to do a risk assessment and inform all staff of health and safety before starting the therapy. It's at that point you can decline to do it.

However for the patient recieving chemotherapy the benefits are really good.

Re: Cytotoxic drug administration - doxorubicin

Steph Worsley — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:24:43 GMT

Not sure if it is one of the ones you def need a fume cupboard to draw it up in or not sorry not much help I know!!