Extravasation of anthracyclines is more common than believed
Patients are at risk of extravasation at each anthracycline infusion. The reported incidence of anthracycline extravasation varies widely in the literature. A review of published sources indicates that estimates of the incidence of anthracycline extravasation vary from 0.1% to 1.0% (Savene® Orphan Medicinal Product Designation file [1]).
Anthracycline extravasation is recognized as a complication that is often underreported and undertreated with a poor outcome (Stanley, 2002)[2]
It is believed that due to increased awareness among medical professionals of the debilitating consequences of extravasation, and more careful administration of anthracyclines, including the use of central venous catheters (CVCs), the incidence of extravasations at present is probably closer to the lower end of this range
Utilisation of CVCs has helped to reduce the incidence of extravasation, although their use is associated with additional problems in clinical management (Langstein et al., 2002)[3]
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