Ann Short Rep | Volume 2, Issue 1 | Research Article | Open Access
Maram K Sait1, Anisha P Aguam2, Sharifah Mohidin2, Sana Al Eidraous3, Laila Al Tabsh4, Nisreen M Anfinan1, Bayan M Al Khalili1, Hesham K Sait1 and Khalid H Sait1*
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia
2Department of Nursing Clinical Practice and Research Unit, King Abdulaziz University Hospital Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
3Department of Nursing Administration, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia
4Department of Hospital Administration, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Saudi Arabia
*Correspondance to: Khalid H Sait
Fulltext PDFObjective: This article explores the factors contributing to intravenous (IV) site related complications in patients receiving chemotherapy related to different variables such as different sizes of cannula, types of chemotherapy, duration of infusing the chemo and locations of the insertion of cannula in a large teaching hospital over an eight-month period.
Methods: A cross-sectional observational study which involved examining peripheral IV site complications conducted at a teaching hospital among sixty-one oncology patients receiving chemotherapy related to different variables such as different sizes of cannula, types of chemotherapy, duration of infusing the chemo and locations of the insertion of cannula was conducted. Patients were chosen according to the inclusion criteria and chemotherapy was given as prescribed. The signs and symptoms of IV site irritation due to phlebitis and extravasations were observed. Any complaints of pain were assessed on the puncture site and the patient was referred for treatment if necessary. The patients were monitored for a minimum of six cycles at different steps of administration (pre, during and after IV chemotherapy administration).
Results: A total of 61 patients with a total of 366 cycles receiving chemotherapy were observed during their first six cycles of chemotherapy. Majority of the cycles 132 (36.1%) are given in patients with breast cancer, 230(62.8%) of patients received non-vesicant chemotherapy. A total of 23 patients (12.8%) developed pain complaint and/or irritation when the chemotherapy contained vesicant chemotherapy (P = 0.028); 261(71.3%) patients with cancer received chemotherapy with duration varying from 1 to 72 hours. Fifteen (5.7%) of those patients developed pain complaint and/or irritation (P = 0.003). The majority of cycles were given in the hand 351(95.9 %). Twenty patients (5.6%) developed pain complaint and/or irritation and 3(20%) developed problems when chemotherapy was given in the arm (ante-cubital) (P = 0.025).A total of 213(58.2 %) patients used small gauge size 24 to 26 cannula. The size of the cannula did not show significant correlations for pain complaint and/or irritation (P= 0.055).
Conclusion: In our center, we found that certain factors in the intravenous chemotherapy administration led to complications and patient’s dissatisfaction. There is the need to investigate each of those factors in a randomized control trial.
Chemotherapy; Extravasation; Infiltration; Intravenous complication; Phlebitis
Sait MK, Aguam AP, Mohidin S, Al Eidraous S, Al Tabsh L, Anfinan NM, et al. Intravenous Site Complications for Patients Receiving Chemotherapy: An Observational Study. Ann Short Reports. 2019;2:1032.