new drug-Avastin for ROP

rockabye · Mar 26, 2011

Yep we have been doing this recently and it is going fine so far. And yes, the opthamologist does the procedure! The nurses are left with a lot of round the clock eye-drop meds to administer.

littleneoRN · Mar 26, 2011

How many times does a baby receive this in a normal treatment?

NeoNurseTX, RN · Mar 27, 2011

We've been doing this at least 2 years with good results.

babyNP., APRN · Mar 27, 2011

Yeah, the person said that the studies were being done in Texas. Awesome! I love how technology races forward to help our little ones :)

TiffyRN, BSN, PhD · Mar 28, 2011

I have had one infant with this treatment and think 2-3 others have had it in our unit the last few months. I saw the paperwork for the infant I cared for. His paperwork explained that he was not receiving the med as an investigational med but as an off-label use. I believe there are studies going on but that some MD's are so excited about the results they will administer Avastin off-label (after educating the parents and obtaining consent).

The infant I cared for had complete regression of his neo-vascularization and is expected to have normal vision. It's my understanding that laser surgery destroys some or all of on infant's peripheral vision, this does not happen with Avastin.

It sounds fantastic, seems to work flawlessly. My only fear is that it's so new and we have no idea of the long term effects.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Mar 29, 2011

We heard about this at a seminar, and we asked our optho about it, but he won't do it because it isn't approved yet and getting reimbursement is hard. He also said he doesn't like that they are cutting the trial short. I think I have to kind of agree.

rockabye · Mar 30, 2011

Didn't they cut the trial short for surfactant too due to the early dramatic improvements? All drugs take awhile before they are widely accepted and the uses are approved of. It is going to take years of studies on Avastin for ROP to make sure those receiving it aren't going to have any complications down the road, say when the patient is middle or old aged. Even cooling blanket use isn't widely accepted due to the still relative "newness" of the therapy and the risk-benefit analysis. NICU doctors are notorious for being stubborn when trying these new therapies.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2011

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1024/avastin-offers-new-hope-treatment-rop

Here is one article that I found.

NicuGal, MSN, RN · Mar 31, 2011

I was thinking about it...Survanta was studied for a lot of years and the trials were years long...our hospital was involved in it, but surfactant is made in the lungs so it isn't being used off label. And many insurance companies don't like to cover off label use, so this could be a problem. They should finish the trial so that it isn't an issue. I'd have to research it to really make up my mind. But I know that the big 3 in our area aren't using it.

Sometimes I don't think it is the stubborn part, but the fact that you can be a lawsuit in 18-21 years down the road, even if the parent's aren't blaming you personally, it is just a pain. No fun, been there done that and have several shirts.

NeoNurseTX, RN · Apr 3, 2011

http://www.emaxhealth.com/1024/avastin-offers-new-hope-treatment-rop
Here is one article that I found.

Yup, that's our lady! (Dr. Hittner)

Mithrah · Apr 22, 2011

We ship out our babies to another unit to have the eye injections. I read that it is cheap. Only $40. Here is an excellent article that I found very informative: http://www.wellsphere.com/general-medicine-article/avastin-lucentis-update-45-avastin-drug-treatment-of-rop-better-than-laser/1369713

Even the drug company doesn't endorse it for ROP. But of course the studies are few and long term outcomes have not been evaluated.