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BACKGROUND: Creating Vascular Access Teams (VAT) provides an expert nursing role that contributes to the training and continuous improvement of healthcare personnel. They can offer greater clinical safety, reducing complications and costs. Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) and midline catheters (ML) can be safe and cost-effective alternatives to other types of venous access (VA). The aim of the study was to analyse our centre's VAT first 12 months of activity. The primary outcome was reported complications. Secondary outcomes were cause of catheter removal, consultancy activity and economic impact of VAT implantation. METHODOLOGY: A longitudinal, descriptive study was carried out from March 2019 to March 2020. Using consecutive sampling, all VA inserted, and all consults received were included. Patients under 18 years of age were excluded. RESULTS: The VAT inserted 1257 catheters into 1056 patients (291 MLs, 966 PICCs). The mean dwell time was 14.9 days for MLs and 59.07 days for PICCs. The main reason for removing VA was end of treatment (80.7%). During VA follow-up confirmed infection was detected in 1 ML (0.3%) and nine PICCs (0.9%). Symptomatic thrombosis was reported in 2 MLs (0.7%) and 16 PICCs (1.7%). The VAT received 367 consultations, and the main reason for consultation was to resolve doubts regarding the management of VA (80.9%). The insertion of ML and PICC catheters represented annual estimated economic savings of 867,688.44. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides a detailed analysis of VAT's activity, its relevance to clinical safety, and to efficient resource management within our hospital. It demonstrates how VAT establishment can be a safe and efficient intervention that enhances care quality.
RESUMEN
OBJETIVO: determinar la incidencia y evolución de la neuropatía periférica inducida por taxanos (NPIT) en pacientes con cáncer de mama y valorar la influencia de la NPIT en la calidad de vida global (CV). MÉTODO: estudio descriptivo longitudinal prospectivo realizado en el Servicio de Oncología del Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (julio 2015-abril 2016). Se incluyeron mujeres diagnosticadas de cáncer de mama en su primera línea de tratamiento con quimioterapia (paclitaxel o docetaxel) en quienes se evaluó la neurotoxicidad y la calidad de vida mediante tres cuestionarios autoinformados validados al inicio, a las 6 y 12 semanas y un mes tras finalizar el tratamiento. RESULTADOS: participaron 33 pacientes de las cuales el 84,4% había desarrollado algún grado de NP al final del seguimiento. La neurotoxicidad empeoró de manera estadísticamente significativa con la acumulación de dosis hasta el final del tratamiento y se mantuvo estable un mes tras la última administración (p< 0,001). La neuropatía sensitiva aumentó de manera estadísticamente significativa a lo largo del seguimiento (p< 0,001). La afectación de la sensibilidad motora también, salvo en la última medición (p< 0,005). Se observó una correlación positiva entre la neurotoxicidad y deterioro de la CV (r= 0,609 (p< 0,0001)) CONCLUSIONES: la NPIT es un efecto secundario con una alta incidencia en la población de mujeres con cáncer de mama estudiada y provoca un efecto negativo en la CV percibida de las pacientes. Las enfermeras oncológicas son profesionales clave en la prevención y el manejo de este efecto secundario
OBJECTIVE: to determine the incidence and evolution of taxane-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN) in breast cancer patients, and to assess the influence of TIPN on overall quality of life (QoL). METHOD: a prospective longitudinal descriptive study conducted at the Oncology Unit of the Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (July, 2015- April, 2016). The study included women with diagnosis of breast cancer, on their first line of treatment with chemotherapy (paclitaxel or docetaxel); neurotoxicity and quality of life were evaluated through three self-reported questionnaires validated at baseline, at 6 and 12 weeks, and one month after completing treatment. RESULTS: the study included 33 patients; 84.4% of them had developed some degree of PN at the end of follow-up. There was a statistically significant worsening in neurotoxicity with dose accumulation until the end of the treatment, and it remained stable one month after the last administration (p< 0.001). There was a statistically significant increase in sensitive neuropathy throughout follow-up (p< 0.001); also in terms of involvement in motor sensitivity, except in the final measurement (p< 0-005). A positive correlation was observed between neurotoxicity and QoL deterioration (r= 0.609 (p < 0.0001)). CONCLUSIONS: TIPN is a side effect with high incidence among the population studied of women with breast cancer, and it causes a negative impact on patient-perceived QoL. Oncology nurses are the key professionals for the prevention and management of this side effect
