title: Improving outcomes of short peripheral vascular access in oncology and chemotherapy administration.
abstract: A short peripheral intravenous catheter or cannula (PIVC) is frequently used to deliver chemotherapy in oncology practice. Although safe and easy to insert, PIVCs do fail, leading to personal discomfort for patients and adding substantially to treatment costs. As the procedure of peripheral catheterization is invasive, there is a need for greater consistency in the choice, insertion and management of short PIVCs, particularly in the oncology setting where there is a growing trend for patients to receive many different courses of IV treatment over a number of years, sometimes with only short remissions. This article reviews best practice with respect to PIVCs in cancer patients and considers the necessity for bundling these actions. Two care bundles, addressing both insertion and ongoing care and maintenance, are proposed. These have the potential to improve outcomes with the use of short PIVCs for vascular access in oncology practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Sciences (DISC), University of Genova, and IRCCS San Martino IST Genova - Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertoglio
authors.affiliation: Trainer & Consultant at Infusion Innovations - The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ton
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Boxtel
authors.affiliation: Nursing Centre of Excellence, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven - Belgium.
authors.forename: Godelieve A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Goossens
authors.affiliation: The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, Surrey - UK.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Saarland University Hospital, Homburg/Saar - Germany.
authors.forename: Rhoikos
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Furtwangler
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Southampton, Hampshire - UK.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lennan
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Policlinico Universitario "A. Gemelli", Rome - Italy.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pittiruti
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Lund University Hospital, Lund - Sweden.
authors.forename: Katarina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sjovall
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven - Belgium.
authors.forename: Marguerite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stas
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D062905:Central Venous Catheters; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D064872:Patient Care Bundles; D058996:Quality Improvement; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents