[Methods of preventing phlebitis induced by infusion of fosaprepitant].

At our hospital, we use aprepitant for nausea and vomiting when administering highly emetic anticancer agents, according to "Guidelines for the Appropriate Use of Antiemetic Agents" given by the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology. We initiated the intravenous administration of fosaprepitant for better compliance compared with aprepitant; however, we observed phlebitis after the infusion of fosaprepitant. Therefore, we investigated measures to reduce phlebitis associated with the infusion of fosaprepitant. For the first premedication, fosaprepitant (150 mg) was dissolved in 100 mL of saline and administered for 30 minutes; 1 of 2 patients showed grade 4 phlebitis. For the modified premedication, fosaprepitant, dexamethasone, and 5- HT(3) antagonist were dissolved in 100 mL of saline and administered for 30 minutes. The modified premedication was administered to a total of 27 patients; 5 patients developed mild phlebitis (grade 1), but infusion could be continued by treating their phlebitis with a hot pack. We used a combination of dexamethasone and 5-HT(3) antagonist with fosaprepitant as a modified premedication in order to avoid drug-induced vascular damage, which resulted in the pH decreasing to 6.20-7.55 (close to neutral) and a shorter infusion time.

Acute fulminant necrotizing colitis caused by amebiasis: report of a case.

Fulminating colitis rarely develops as a complication of amebiasis; however, it is difficult to diagnose and treat, and associated with a very high mortality rate. We report herein the case of a 62-year-old man with superacute fulminant necrotizing amebic colitis who, despite treatment with aggressive surgery and antiamebic agents, died of multiple organ failure following sepsis on the 25th day after onset. The patient had no immmunosuppressive disorders and claimed that he had never had homosexual intercourse, or traveled to the tropics in recent years. Since the incidence of amebiasis is increasing in developed countries, including Japan, more attention should be focused on the fulminating nature of this disease.