Comparative drug therapy problems and pharmacists' intervention in selected health facilities in Ogun State

Background - Regular medication reviews will reduce the occurrence of Drug Therapy Problems (DTPs). This study set out to identify, document DTPs and evaluate the impact of pharmacists´ interventions in selected health facilities. Methods - The study was carried out simultaneously at two tertiary and two secondary hospitals in Ogun States. Pharmacists were trained to document all identified DTPs in prescriptions and impacts of pharmacists' interventions for six months using the documentation form, PCNE V5.01. Data was analyzed and presented as frequencies with test of significance of main parameters. Results ­ One hundred and four (104) DTPs were reported in all the health facilities but with no significant difference in occurrence at the two hospital levels. Commonly occurring DTPs were drug choice problems (35.6%), dosing problems (33.9%), adverse drug reaction (22.8%), drug use problems (4.23%) and drug interactions (1.69%). Most proposed interventions (77.0%) were approved by prescribers with (77.2%) resolution of DTPs in tertiary hospitals. Conclusion- There was no significant difference in occurrence of DTPs in the hospitals but there was higher incidence of non-allergic ADR, contraindication, duration of drug use and duplication of drugs at the secondary level. Acceptance rate of proposed interventions by physicians was high (77.2%) confirming that pharmacists' intervention in rational pharmacotherapy is valuable

Role guided intraperitoneal port-a-cath insertion in the managment of cancer ovary of fluoroscopic

The use of intraperitoneal [IP] chemotherapy as a treatment for ovarian cancer has been demonstrated to result in improved survival. The aim of this work is to evaluate the applicability and efficacy of fluoroscopic placed intraperitoneal port-A-cath and to assess the response rate to intraperitoneal chemotherapy in cases of ovarian carcinoma. The studied group included, 22 female patients with malignant ovarian cancer whom referred from gynecological surgery and gynecological oncology units to the Vascular and Interventional Radiology Unit, Ain Shams University Hospitals, for peritoneal port-A-cath application. All the patients were known cases of either primary or recurrent ovarian cancer, underwent cytoreductive surgery and referred to us. Intraperitoneal port-A-cath with the aid of fluoroscopy showed highest technical success [91.9%] and lowest complication rate on the long run compared to other methods of peritoneal access. Patients with cancer ovary showed significant improvement of the disease process denoted by changes in the degree of ascites, peritoneal nodules and tumor marker level after receiving combined IV/ IP chemotherapy. Port catheters proved to be the most safe method of long term access to the peritoneal cavity with the lowest complication rate compared to other methods of access to the peritoneal cavity