Abstract
BACKGROUND: Normal saline is considered a safe alternative for heparin as a locking solution in totally implantable venous access devices. The incidence rate of partial occlusion with the use of normal saline (easy injection, impossible aspiration) is estimated at 4%.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of partial occlusions with the use of normal saline solution and the maintenance of positive pressure in the catheter.
METHODS: We enrolled 218 patients with different solid tumors who underwent pharmacologic treatment through the port with different frequencies: from once every week to at least once every month. The port was flushed with normal saline solution keeping a positive pressure in the catheter.
RESULTS: We performed 4111 observations and documented normal port functioning in 99% of observations (n = 4057) and partial occlusions in 1% of observations (n = 54). Partial occlusions were significantly associated with frequency of port flushing (P < .05), chemotherapy (P < .001), and blood sample collection (P < .001).
CONCLUSIONS: The use of positive pressure in addition to normal saline reduces the incidence rate of partial occlusions. The type of treatment, blood sample collection, and treatment schedule are important determinants of partial occlusions.
IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses play a key role in maintaining a functioning port using positive pressure during the flushing techniques. Certain risk factors must be monitored to prevent partial occlusions, and certain patients are more likely to present with port-related problems.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 102-107 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Cancer Nursing |
| Volume | 40 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2017 |
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Keywords
- Adult
- Aged
- Aged, 80 and over
- Ambulatory Care
- Female
- Humans
- Incidence
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Pressure
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Sodium Chloride/therapeutic use
- Thrombosis/epidemiology
- Vascular Access Devices
Cite this
Incidence and Determinants of Port Occlusions in Cancer Outpatients : A Prospective Cohort Study. / Milani, Alessandra; Mazzocco, Ketti; Gandini, Sara; Pravettoni, Gabriella; Libutti, Livio; Zencovich, Claudia; Sbriglia, Ada; Pari, Chiara; Magon, Giorgio; Saiani, Luisa.
In: Cancer Nursing, Vol. 40, No. 2, 2017, p. 102-107.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Incidence and Determinants of Port Occlusions in Cancer Outpatients
T2 - A Prospective Cohort Study
AU - Milani, Alessandra
AU - Mazzocco, Ketti
AU - Gandini, Sara
AU - Pravettoni, Gabriella
AU - Libutti, Livio
AU - Zencovich, Claudia
AU - Sbriglia, Ada
AU - Pari, Chiara
AU - Magon, Giorgio
AU - Saiani, Luisa
PY - 2017
Y1 - 2017
N2 - BACKGROUND: Normal saline is considered a safe alternative for heparin as a locking solution in totally implantable venous access devices. The incidence rate of partial occlusion with the use of normal saline (easy injection, impossible aspiration) is estimated at 4%.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of partial occlusions with the use of normal saline solution and the maintenance of positive pressure in the catheter.METHODS: We enrolled 218 patients with different solid tumors who underwent pharmacologic treatment through the port with different frequencies: from once every week to at least once every month. The port was flushed with normal saline solution keeping a positive pressure in the catheter.RESULTS: We performed 4111 observations and documented normal port functioning in 99% of observations (n = 4057) and partial occlusions in 1% of observations (n = 54). Partial occlusions were significantly associated with frequency of port flushing (P < .05), chemotherapy (P < .001), and blood sample collection (P < .001).CONCLUSIONS: The use of positive pressure in addition to normal saline reduces the incidence rate of partial occlusions. The type of treatment, blood sample collection, and treatment schedule are important determinants of partial occlusions.IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses play a key role in maintaining a functioning port using positive pressure during the flushing techniques. Certain risk factors must be monitored to prevent partial occlusions, and certain patients are more likely to present with port-related problems.
AB - BACKGROUND: Normal saline is considered a safe alternative for heparin as a locking solution in totally implantable venous access devices. The incidence rate of partial occlusion with the use of normal saline (easy injection, impossible aspiration) is estimated at 4%.OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate determinants of partial occlusions with the use of normal saline solution and the maintenance of positive pressure in the catheter.METHODS: We enrolled 218 patients with different solid tumors who underwent pharmacologic treatment through the port with different frequencies: from once every week to at least once every month. The port was flushed with normal saline solution keeping a positive pressure in the catheter.RESULTS: We performed 4111 observations and documented normal port functioning in 99% of observations (n = 4057) and partial occlusions in 1% of observations (n = 54). Partial occlusions were significantly associated with frequency of port flushing (P < .05), chemotherapy (P < .001), and blood sample collection (P < .001).CONCLUSIONS: The use of positive pressure in addition to normal saline reduces the incidence rate of partial occlusions. The type of treatment, blood sample collection, and treatment schedule are important determinants of partial occlusions.IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Nurses play a key role in maintaining a functioning port using positive pressure during the flushing techniques. Certain risk factors must be monitored to prevent partial occlusions, and certain patients are more likely to present with port-related problems.
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Aged, 80 and over
KW - Ambulatory Care
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Incidence
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Neoplasms/drug therapy
KW - Pressure
KW - Prospective Studies
KW - Risk Factors
KW - Sodium Chloride/therapeutic use
KW - Thrombosis/epidemiology
KW - Vascular Access Devices
U2 - 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000357
DO - 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000357
M3 - Article
C2 - 26925994
VL - 40
SP - 102
EP - 107
JO - Cancer Nursing
JF - Cancer Nursing
SN - 0162-220X
IS - 2
ER -