Congress Abstracts 2006

210

PREVENTION OF MUCOSITIS IN AUTO BMT/STEM CELL TRANSPLANT PATIENTS. Joan Klocke, RN, OCN^®, North Shore University Hospital, New York, NY; and Maureen Cannon, RN, NP, Diane Gissinger, RN, MSN, Ruthee Bayer, MD, Craig Devoe, MD, and Veena John, MD, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, NY.

It is estimated that 80 percent of patients who undergo high-dose chemotherapy prior to transplantation develop mucositis. Mucositis is a painful complication, which can lead to poor nutrition, increased use of narcotics, dehydration, greater risk for infection and bacteremia and altered quality of life. Patients can have oral ulceration, epigastric discomfort, diarrhea, rectal irritation and bleeding. It is likely that the complications of mucositis can contribute to increased length of stay during stem cell transplantation.

The purpose of this study is to compare patients who received Kepivance^® (palifermin) with patients that did not receive this medication regimen during autologous stem cell transplantation. We performed a retrospective analysis of 40 patients; 20 prior to the institution of Kepivance^® (palifermin), and 20 patients after. The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of Kepivance decreases the incidence and duration of mucositis.

A retrospective comparison study is appropriate for this research.

Data for this study was taken from forty discharged inpatient medical records. No patient identifiers were used, instead a number for each group from 1 to 20 was given. The data collection tool was approved by the Institutional Review Board. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed by an independent statistician. The data points extracted were the following: diagnosis, length of stay, oral mucositis, GI mucositis, narcotics, TPN, antifungals, antidiarrheals and antibiotic use.

The findings of this study support the clinical decision to include Kepivance^® (palifermin)in the preventive treatment for mucositis in Autologous BMT/Stem Cell Transplant Patients. The average length of stay for non-Kepivance patients was 32.3 days compared to 28.3 days in patients who received the drug. The severity of both oral and GI mucositis appeared to be less. 17 out of 20 non-Kepivance patients experienced diarrhea or rectal irritation versus 9 out of 20 with Kepivance. There was a trend toward earlier engraftment in the Kepivance group.

It is estimated that 80 percent of patients who undergo high-dose chemotherapy prior to transplantation develop mucositis. Mucositis is a painful complication, which can lead to poor nutrition, increased use of narcotics, dehydration, greater risk for infection and bacteremia and altered quality of life. Patients can have oral ulceration, epigastric discomfort, diarrhea, rectal irritation and bleeding. It is likely that the complications of mucositis can contribute to increased length of stay during stem cell transplantation.

The purpose of this study is to compare patients who received Kepivance^® (palifermin) with patients that did not receive this medication regimen during autologous stem cell transplantation. We performed a retrospective analysis of 40 patients; 20 prior to the institution of Kepivance^® (palifermin), and 20 patients after. The objective of this study was to determine whether the use of Kepivance decreases the incidence and duration of mucositis.

A retrospective comparison study is appropriate for this research.

Data for this study was taken from forty discharged inpatient medical records. No patient identifiers were used, instead a number for each group from 1 to 20 was given. The data collection tool was approved by the Institutional Review Board. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed by an independent statistician. The data points extracted were the following: diagnosis, length of stay, oral mucositis, GI mucositis, narcotics, TPN, antifungals, antidiarrheals and antibiotic use.

The findings of this study support the clinical decision to include Kepivance^® (palifermin)in the preventive treatment for mucositis in Autologous BMT/Stem Cell Transplant Patients. The average length of stay for non-Kepivance patients was 32.3 days compared to 28.3 days in patients who received the drug. The severity of both oral and GI mucositis appeared to be less. 17 out of 20 non-Kepivance patients experienced diarrhea or rectal irritation versus 9 out of 20 with Kepivance. There was a trend toward earlier engraftment in the Kepivance group.