A blog I posted back in 2010 discussed vesicants are not just chemo agents – read post Chemotherapeutic (Cytotoxic) agents are not the only vesicants that cause extravasation injuries. There are non-chemo medications and solutions that have vesicant properties as well and can cause extravasation. Back then, the list of non-chemo vesicants was short or did not evevn exist. Now, the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) vesicant task force created an evidence based list of noncytotoxic vesicant medications and solutions along with a checklist for the prevention and identification of extravasation.¹

The list above is categorized as :

• RED for high risk infusates – well-recognized vesicants with multiple citations and reports of tissue damage on extravasation.

• YELLOW for intermediate risk infusates – those associated with fewer reports of extravasation but are recognized as vesicants, and potential for tissue damage.

Each organization should have a list of vesicant infusates and address extravasation prevention and management in their policies and procedures. Does your organization have a list? Go find out…

For more information on the INS Vesicant Task Force Paper – click here

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Reference:

1. Infusion Nurses Society Vesicant Task Force (2016). Noncytotxic vesicant medications and solutons. Retrieved from  https://www.learningcenter.ins1.org/products/noncytotoxic-vesicant-medications-and-solutions