Vesicant

Definition

A vesicant is a chemical agent that causes severe blistering and tissue damage upon contact. In pharmacology, vesicants are often associated with certain chemotherapeutic drugs and can cause serious skin injuries if they extravasate during intravenous administration.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Vesicants can cause severe local tissue necrosis if they leak out of veins during IV administration.
2. Common vesicant chemotherapeutic agents include doxorubicin, vincristine, and mechlorethamine.
3. Immediate management of vesicant extravasation includes stopping the infusion and applying specific antidotes or interventions.
4. Nurses must be trained in recognizing and managing vesicant complications to prevent long-term damage to patients.
5. Topical anti-infectives may be used as part of the treatment regimen for skin injuries caused by vesicants.

Review Questions

• What immediate steps should a nurse take if a vesicant extravasates during chemotherapy?
• Name two chemotherapeutic agents that are classified as vesicants.
• Why is it important for nurses to be knowledgeable about vesicants when administering IV chemotherapy?

Related terms

Extravasation: The leakage of intravenously administered drugs into the surrounding tissue.

Cytotoxicity: The quality of being toxic to cells, commonly attributed to chemotherapeutic agents.

Antidote: A substance that counteracts the effects of a poison or toxin, often used in emergency treatment situations.