Safety considerations in the use of intraoperative intraperitoneal chemotherapy

Abstract

As surgeons use chemotherapy the safety considerations for patients and hospital personnel become extended outside of the traditional restrictions of an oncology infusion center and medical oncology nursing unit. The operating room, the surgical intensive care unit, and the surgical nursing unit become sites at which high dose regional and systemic chemotherapy are utilized. There are unique risks that must be addressed when the patient receives both intraoperative and postoperative chemotherapy. The personnel on the surgical service must strictly follow additional precautions not previously required in order to safely use chemotherapy in the operating room and in these unusual locations. Exposure to body fluids, exposure to chemotherapy, and special precautions in the disposal of contaminated waste are the major considerations. Appropriate actions to safe guard both patient and surgical personnel are suggested. As the benefits from these treatments are further studied the safe application of perioperative chemotherapy may need to be extended to operating theaters in all hospitals.