Timing of Bevacizumab Chemotherapy After Port Placement

NCCN Guideline Recommendations

• The National Comprehensive Cancer Network recommends an interval of at least 6 weeks between the last dose of bevacizumab and any elective surgery, and reinitiation should be delayed at least 6 to 8 weeks postoperatively, with a strength of evidence based on clinical guidelines 1, 2
• When chemotherapy plus bevacizumab was administered after surgery with a delay of at least 6 weeks, the incidence of wound healing complications was low, with 1.3% vs 0.5% for chemotherapy alone, in a population of patients undergoing surgery, with a p-value of 0.63 3, 4

Important Caveats

• Bevacizumab carries specific wound healing risks, with documented increased wound complications when administered perioperatively, occurring in 13% of cases vs 3.4% for chemotherapy alone during major surgery, in patients receiving bevacizumab, with a significant impact on wound healing 3, 4