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Ten-minute administration of bevacizumab
  1. Sara García Gil1,
  2. Fernando Gutiérrez Nicolás1,
  3. Guillermo A González De La Fuente1,
  4. Gloria J Nazco Casariego1,
  5. M Micaela Viña Romero2,
  6. J Norberto Batista López3
  1. 1 Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
  2. 2 Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital Nuestra Señora de la Candelaria, Tenerife, Spain
  3. 3 Department of Clinical Oncology, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Tenerife, Spain
  1. Correspondence to Mrs Sara García Gil, Department of Pharmacy, University Hospital of Canary Islands, Carretera Ofra s/n, 38320, San Cristobal de La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain; saragg1991{at}gmail.com

Abstract

Objective To describe our experience of administering bevacizumab doses at 0.5 mg/kg/min. The main objective of the study was to evaluate the safety of this regimen of administration. Secondary endpoints were to evaluate the cost saving and satisfaction of patients with the reduction in treatment delivery time.

Methods The study included all patients who received bevacizumab therapy during 18 months. Time savings was calculated comparing time of normal-administration regimen (90–60–30 min) versus time with the new administration rate (0.5 mg/kg/min). Finally, importance of the reduction in the treatment delivery time for patients was surveyed.

Results A total of 713 infusions (73 patients) were included in the study. Just one grade 1-HSR was observed and no high-grade HSRs occurred during the study period. The new infusion rate saved 14 980 min which means a saving of €26 940.30 (€17 960.20 per year). A convenience sample of patients (25 patients) was interviewed, with an averaged in the importance of time savings by 8.8 points on the visual analogue scale.

Conclusions Our results show how this infusion rate of bevacizumab can be administered safely with benefit both for the patients and for the health systems by economic savings.

  • Bevacizumab
  • Drug administration
  • Infusion-related hypersensitivity reactions
  • Administration rate
  • Drug safety

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