Antibiotic prophylaxis involves the administration of antibiotics prior to any infection in order to prevent infection. Routine antibiotic prophylaxis has been recommended by several professional groups in patients who are at risk for infection, such as those who have an expected duration of severe neutropenia for more than seven days, and patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Flouroquinolones are most often recommended, and have been associated with decreased incidence of febrile neutropenia and infection.
Use of antimicrobial-coated sutures for surgical closure has been examined in patients undergoing surgery for its effect in the prevention of surgical site infections in patients with cancer.
Intrabdominal lavage with a clindamycin-gentamicin solution was used in patients undergoing open surgery for colorectal cancer immediately before surgical closure of the abdominal wall. The effect on postoperative wound infection and rate of development of intra-abdominal abcesses was evaluated.
APP skin cream is an oil-in-water emulsion that was prepared in a Food and Drug Administration-approved facility under Current Good Manufacturing Guidelines, but it is not commercially available. The active ingredients of APP cream are triglycerides and phospholipids preserved with benzyl alcohol, methyl paraben, propyl paraben, and diaxolipinyl urea.
Animal-assisted therapy is a recognized complementary therapeutic approach using animals to increase patients’ psychological and physical well-being. Animals involved are trained and certified, and animal-assisted therapy has been used to assist in physical rehabilitation, management of pain, and in long-term care settings, as well as other applications. In patients with cancer, evaluation of animal-assisted therapy was conducted related to management of fatigue.
Systemic anesthetic administration refers to the intravenous or oral administration of an anesthetic agent. The systemic administration of lidocaine by intravenous infusion and its oral analog mexiletine were examined for their effectiveness in the management of chronic neuropathic pain. Anesthetic infusion also has been studied for the management of acute and refractory pain.
Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant that research has identified as being useful for the treatment of peripheral neuropathy symptoms and neuropathic pain. For the non-cancer population, it has been used as a treatment for eating disorders and migraine headaches. Amitriptyline is available as a tablet to take by mouth.
Amifostine is a cytoprotective agent that can protect DNA and RNA from damage from chemotherapeutic agents that involve binding to DNA, such as platinum containing alkylating agents. It may also accelerate DNA repair and protect cells against harmful effects of radiation treatment. Amifostine is administered intravenously. Amifostine has been studied for its effects on diarrhea, mucositis, and peripheral neuropathy.
Amidotrizoate, a hyperosmolar water-soluble contrast medium, is an anionic, bitter-flavored mixture. Amidotrizoate was examined for its effect as a potential osmotic laxative.
Energy healing is a system to stimulate and catalyze healing processes by using the hands. The Ama Deus system incorporates ceremony, sacred symbols, and more of a spiritual and symbol-driven set of components than other systems of energy healing.