Lorusso, V., Giampaglia, M., Petrucelli, L., Saracino, V., Perrone, T., & Gnoni, A. (2012). Antiemetic efficacy of single-dose palonosetron and dexamethasone in patients receiving multiple cycles of multiple day-based chemotherapy. Supportive Care in Cancer: Official Journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 20, 3241–3246.
To assess the efficacy of a single dose of palonosetron and dexamethasone to prevent chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) and guarantee an adequate food intake in patients receiving several cycles of multiple-day-based chemotherapy
Patients with advanced cancer but without a compromised nutritional status (bone mass > 18.5) receiving multiple cycles of multiple days (MD-CT) were treated with 0.25 mg palonosetron over 30 seconds and 20 mg dexamethasone 30 minutes prior to chemotherapy. Patients recorded the number and intensity of emesis episodes, use of rescue medication, and the time and amount of daily food intake including pictures when available.
This study was conducted at a single site at a hospital in Lecee, Italy.
This was a prospective, uncontrolled trial.
A direct correlation exists between mild nausea and significant decrease in food intake. Patients can easily become malnourished. Nurses need to assess closely for nausea, using a Likert-type scale and weight loss and malnutrition.
Palonosetron and dexamethasone can achieve high control of CINV during multiple days and multiple cycles of HEC. Nurses need to use instruments like the subjective global assessment (SGA) used in this study to better identify patients at risk for malnourishment rather than reyling solely on body mass index (BMI).