Objectives In 2013, the PharmaHelp device was introduced to daily patient care at the University Hospital of Heidelberg in order to improve process and staff safety and health. It is a semiautomated device located in a safety workbench for aseptic preparation with weight-and-visual-supported process check as well as radio-frequency identification of bags and vials. Methods After qualification and a training period, several high-admixture-volume drugs were chosen stepwise to be prepared by the device. During a reporting period of 6 months, the number of processed production runs and produced bags were assessed as well as the productivity per hour of the device based on the processed admixing volume and time consumption for manual preprocessing and postprocessing steps.

BackgroundPancreatic cancer occurs more frequently in older patients, but these are underrepresented in the phase III clinical studies that established the current treatment standards. This leads to uncertainty regarding the treatment of older patients with potentially toxic but active regimens like FOLFIRINOX.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of patients treated according to the FOLFIRINOX protocol at our institution between 2010 and 2014 with a focus on older patients.ResultsOverall survival in our cohort was 10.2 months. Only 43% of patients did not need dose adaptations, but dose reductions did not lead to an inferior survival. We did not find evidence that patients aged 65 years and older deemed fit enough for palliative treatment had more toxicities or a worse outcome than younger patients.ConclusionWe conclude that treatment with the FOLFIRINOX protocol in patients with pancreatic cancer should not be withhold from patients solely based on their chronological age but rather be based on the patient’s performance status and comorbidities.

Background Oral anticancer drugs still contain some of the most critical issues in terms of right use and compliance. Patients need to be advised and guided concerning dosing schedules, risks and important supportive measures. Package sizes distributed by the pharmaceutical industry often contain more doses than one patient needs especially for short-term stays in the hospital. Purpose Our goal was to dispense patient-individual unit doses of oral anticancer drugs based on individual computerised prescriptions. Materials and MethodsFor this purpose we implemented evidence-based treatment regimens in the prescription software to prevent errors and support the use of standardised treatment plans. Additionally patient information leaflets were created. The first drugs to be computerised in this way were capecitabine and temozolomide. Results Individualised dispensing of oral anticancer drugs allows more extensive pharmaceutical care of these patients. In view of the risks described above oral anticancer drugs have to undergo a pharmaceutical plausibility cheque and the amount has to be found suitable according to the treatment regime before dispensing. Moreover, the available instructions for use e.g. treatment schedules including supportive measures and the patient information brochure improve the information flow and the safe use. Conclusions Due to the positive feedback from the operators we are extending the procedure to all oral anticancer drugs. No conflict of interest.InteractIons Between meDIcInal gases anD other meDIcInal proDucts: Development of a hospItal Drug DataBase