Chemotherapy may lead to serious complications

AORN Journal,  Oct, 2006  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

Researchers found that 16% of women who underwent chemotherapy for breast cancer experienced serious adverse side effects that required emergency care or hospitalization, according to an Aug 15, 2006, news release from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The odds of a woman experiencing a serious adverse effect increased by 20% per month for each additional month of chemotherapy that was administered to her after her initial breast cancer diagnosis.

Most of the adverse effects were related to serious complications caused by the toxicity of the medications. These complications included

* anemia;

* reduced production of white blood celts or platelets (ie, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia);

* electrolyte disorders (eg, dehydration);

* nausea or diarrhea;

* fatigue, dizziness, or related conditions;

* deep venous thrombosis or pulmonary embolism; and

* malnutrition.

More than 8% of the women who underwent chemotherapy were seen in the emergency room (ER) or were hospitalized for infection and fever. Compared to patients undergoing chemotherapy who did not experience serious complications, those who experienced adverse events had annual medical expenditures for aLL causes that averaged

* $13,000 more for hospital care,

* $406 more for ER visits,

* $16,000 more for outpatient care, and

* $1,900 more for prescription medications.

Chemotherapy Complications Greater Than Previously Estimated (news release, Rockville, Md: Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Aug 15, 2006).

COPYRIGHT 2006 Association of Operating Room Nurses, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning