Factors associated with severe skin disorder after extravasation of intravenously infused antineoplastic agents

Abstract

 This study examined factors associated with severe skin disorders after extravasation. Among 256 patients who received intravenous drip infusion of antineoplastic agents from April through September 2014, the 25 patients who experienced extravasation were analyzed. Measurements of skin temperature by thermography and macroscopic observation were performed during drip infusion to each patient. The severe group（12 patients）was defined as patients showing induration or blistering at the next hospital visit. The remaining 13 patients constituted the mild group. Various factors were compared between groups. All study protocols were approved by the Kanazawa Medical University Ethics Committee. The severe group was characterized by longer administration of vesicant or irritant agents after appearance of a thermographic low-temperature region suggesting extravasation（severe group, 28 min；mild group, 6 min；P=0.017）, lack of swelling during administration（severe group, 92%；mild group, 46%；P=0.03）, and lower age（severe group, 59.4 y；mild group, 71.2 y；P=0.037）. The results of the present study suggest that the factor associated with severe skin disorder after extravasation was a long duration of extravasation due to a lack of recognition of swelling after the first appearance of symptoms.