References:
General Hematology/Oncology
- Clari, M. et al. Short Versus Long Timing of Flushing of Totally Implantable Venous Access Devices When Not Used Routinely: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cancer Nurs 2021.
- A systematic review of six articles including 1,255 patients with cancer. Low-quality evidence suggests that prolonged schedule flushing and locking intervals has no effect on catheter patency.
- Wu, XH. et al. Prolonging the Flush-Lock Interval of Totally Implantable Venous Access Ports in Patients with Cancer: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Vasc Access 2021.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 4 studies including 862 patients with cancer. The study evaluated studies of flush intervals less than 4 weeks versus longer than for weeks for patients who completed chemotherapy. Extending the flush interval to longer than 4 weeks is safe and feasible. Based on previous studies, extending the flush interval to 8 weeks might not increase the incidence of total complications and catheter occlusions. However, there is no conclusion on whether the flush interval could be extended to 3 months or longer.
- Wu, XH. et al. Heparin versus 0.9% Saline Solution to Maintain Patency of Totally Implanted Venous Access Ports in Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Int J Nurs Pract 2021.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 4 studies including 2,652 patients with cancer that evaluated whether saline solution could replace heparin solution in adult cancer patients with totally implantable venous access ports (TIVAPs). The study found that saline solution can replace 50 or 100 U/ml of heparin as a safe and effective flush solution for TIVAPs.
- Xiong, ZY. et al. Prolonged Flushing and Locking Interval for Totally Implantable Vascular Access Device: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Vasc Access 2021.
- A systematic review and meta-analysis of 14 studies including 2,488 patients with cancer who retained a port after the completion of chemotherapy or during the intermission of chemotherapy. The study compares flushing duration of ports (every four weeks vs. more than four weeks). The study found that longer flushing intervals for ports are safe.
Acute Leukemia/Aggressive Lymphoma
- Qian, H. et al. Predisposing Factors and Effect of Bundle Nursing in PICC-Related Upper Extremity Deep Venous Thrombosis in Patients with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Undergoing Chemotherapy. Am J Transl Res 2021.
- 370 non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma patients undergoing chemotherapy randomized into two groups; those that received bundle nursing (observation group) and those that received routine nursing (control group). The incidence of PICC-UEDVT was lower in the observation group (18 patients, 9.73%) than that of the control group (35 patients, 18.92%; P<0.05); the satisfaction rate towards nursing was higher in the observation group than the control group (P<0.05).
Solid Tumor Malignancy
- Lang, T. et al. Is There a Relationship Between Frequency of Port-Care Maintenance and Related Complications in Patients with Cancer. JCO Oncol Pract 2022.
- 1,059 patients oncology and hematology patients were enrolled. No difference was observed in the overall percentage of ports removed because of physician-reported complications across all cohorts (25% - 30%). No change in the incidence of port-related complications including suspected infection and malfunction was observed between cohorts 1 and 2 (flushes every 4 to 8 weeks) and cohort 3 (flushes every 12 weeks) (8% and 5% respectively).
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