Essentials

Liposomal Irinotecan: Nursing Considerations in an Outpatient Cancer Center

Karen Kinsley

Wendy Pritchett

liposomal irinotecan, metastatic pancreatic cancer, Patient education
CJON 2018, 22(2), 221-224. DOI: 10.1188/18.CJON.221-224

Recent approaches in treating pancreatic adenocarcinoma, an aggressive disease with limited survival, include the use of liposomal irinotecan as an option when first-line therapy has failed. Liposomal irinotecan has been approved in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Liposomal irinotecan is a newer therapy requiring oncology nurses to obtain knowledge and skills for proper administrating, monitoring of hypersensitivity reactions during infusion, managing side effects, and providing patient education. Nursing considerations when administering this drug include infusion time, premedication, risk for hypersensitivity reactions and adverse events, and side effects.

AT A GLANCE

  • Newer treatment for metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma involves the use of liposomal irinotecan as second-line therapy. 
  • Liposomal irinotecan can improve drug delivery and reduce toxicity in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
  • Oncology nursing considerations for liposomal irinotecan involve chemotherapy administration, adverse events, and side effects.
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