A new low-cost but effective device has been developed by researchers at University of Alberta’s Regional Palliative Care Program to reduce the pain of cancer patients, said Dr. Abdul Shukkoor, an Indian oncologist who recently completed the clinical fellowship in palliative care at the university in Canada.
“The device — Edmonton Injector — is safe, simple and cost-effective, with a low rate of mild side effects,” said Shukkoor, who has conducted a study on the device, a subcutaneous portable infusion pump, having 7 cm long and 3 cm width and attached with a 50ml bag containing an opioid solution.
The device, which has been tested successfully on 300 patients and is currently being debated by experts through international medical conferences and scientific journals, would bring about substantial improvement in cancer pain treatment, especially in Third World countries, he said.
“In developing countries, where costs play a major role in reducing opioid availability, this administration modality may be especially useful. In addition to the lower cost, patients and families can manage the administration at home with minimal training,” he explained.
“With a simple movement, the patient, caregiver, or nursing staff member fills up a 3 ml syringe and with a second movement, the solution is injected into a subcutaneous site through a 25-gauge butterfly needle. The device has no engine or batteries,” Shukkoor said. Various concentrations of the opioid solution are prepared according to a physician’s instructions. Usually one 50ml bag lasts for approximately 50 doses.
Developed by Dr. Eduardo Breura and Dr. Robin Fainsinger, Edmonton Injector is regularly used by the University of Alberta. “It is highly useful for developing countries considering the cost effectiveness, simplicity and safety,” Shukkoor said. “While the electronic version of the device made by multinational companies costs thousands of US dollars, the Edmonton Injector costs less than 50 Canadian dollars. It can be manufactured at lesser cost in countries like India,” he pointed out.
“Dr. Breura and Dr. Fainsinger will be more than happy to share the concept of the device with any other country to help millions of cancer patients across the world,” he said. “When Dr. Ketayun Dinshaw, director of Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital in Mumbai was contacted as part of popularizing the device in India, she highlighted the importance of such a device for cancer patients, especially for those who cannot afford the costly electronic infusion pump,” he said.
Shukkoor, who has worked earlier at King Faisal Specialist Hospital’s Oncology Department in Jeddah, disclosed his plan to visit other developing countries in order to popularize the device. Those who are interested to know more about the device may contact him through his e-mail address: [email protected].
Dr. Shukkoor, who has been offered an extension of his fellowship at Alberta University, is planning to conduct two more research projects in collaboration with University of Texas.
He said the new device would contribute substantially to palliative care, which he said is important for improving the quality of life of terminally ill people, especially cancer victims. “A palliative care center provides symptom assessment and treatment; helps in decision-making and establishing goals of care and provides practical support for patients and their family caregivers,” said Dr. Shukkoor.
He said palliative care provides an excellent opportunity for doctors, nurses and community members to extend better care to terminally ill people. “There may be limit to cure but there is no limit for care,” he pointed out. Palliative care makes life different for these patients.
Dr. Shukkoor stated that there is substantial improvement in cancer treatment as a result of the invention of advanced medical equipments and devices that can detect the disease in early stages. But the painful truth in developing countries is that 70 to 80 percent of cancer patients are diagnosed in advanced stages of the disease mainly due to lack of awareness and poor health care facilities.
“Once the disease reached advanced stages it would be very difficult to cure. Here comes the importance of palliative care that can not only improve the quality of life of patients but also reduce the economic burden on their families by avoiding unnecessary treatment and medication.”
He said about 70 percent of cancer patients are in developing countries and only six percent of them receive palliative care. “Cancer is spreading rapidly due to many factors, especially change in lifestyle. It is feared that one out of four could be detected with cancer,” he said.
