Cuidados de enfermagem a pacientes com doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro / Nursing care for patients with graft-versus-host disease / Atención de enfermería para pacientes con enfermedad del injerto contra el huésped

Objetivo: analisar as evidências disponíveis sobre os cuidados de enfermagem realizados a pacientes em pós-transplante de células-tronco hematopoiéticas com doença do enxerto contra hospedeiro. Método: revisão integrativa, cuja busca de estudos primários ocorreu em seis bases de dados da área da saúde e uma biblioteca virtual em saúde. Utilizou-se da estratégia de busca ampla e incluíram-se as pesquisas publicadas em inglês, português ou espanhol, entre 2014 e 2018. Assim, a amostra da revisão foi composta por oito estudos primários. Resultados: para organizar a síntese de conhecimento, os estudos foram agrupados em três categorias: Processo de enfermagem (n=4), Impacto do transplante (n=2) e Tecnologias para o cuidado (n=2). Conclusão: os estudos abordam o cuidado de enfermagem de forma integrada a outras complicações, não abordando a doença do enxerto especificamente. Pontuaram-se o uso da sistematização da assistência de enfermagem, os custos com o tratamento, o dimensionamento da equipe de enfermagem e o uso de tecnologias como estratégias para realização do cuidado. As evidências geradas são incipientes e apontam para necessidade do desenvolvimento de mais estudos na área.(AU)

Objective: to analyze the available evidence on nursing care following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to patients with graft-versus-host disease. Method: an integrative review of primary studies was conducted in six databases and one virtual health library. A broad search strategy was used, and studies published in English, Portuguese, or Spanish, between 2014 and 2018 were included. The review sample consisted of eight primary studies. Results: the studies were grouped into three categories to organize the synthesis of knowledge: Nursing process (n = 4), Transplant impact (n = 2), and Technologies for care (n = 2). Conclusion: the studies address nursing care in an integrated way with health care to other complications, not specifically addressing graft disease. Issues discussed in the studies included the use of nursing care systematization, the costs of the treatment, the nursing team's dimensioning, and the use of technologies for carrying out the health care. The evidence generated is incipient and points to the need for further studies in the area.(AU)

Objetivo: analizar la evidencia disponible sobre los cuidados de enfermería que se brindan a los pacientes en el postrasplante de células madre hematopoyéticas con enfermedad de injerto contra huésped. Método: revisión integradora, cuya búsqueda de estudios primarios se realizó en seis bases de datos de salud y una biblioteca virtual de salud. Se utilizó la estrategia de búsqueda amplia y se incluyó la investigación publicada en inglés, portugués o español entre 2014 y 2018. Así, la muestra de revisión estuvo formada por ocho estudios primarios. Resultados: para organizar la síntesis de conocimientos, los estudios se agruparon en tres categorías: Proceso de enfermería (n = 4), Impacto del trasplante (n = 2) y Tecnologías para el cuidado (n = 2). Conclusión: los estudios abordan el cuidado de enfermería de manera integrada con otras complicaciones, sin abordar específicamente la enfermedad del injerto. Se puntuó el uso de la sistematización del cuidado de enfermería, los costos del tratamiento, el dimensionamiento del equipo de enfermería y el uso de tecnologías como estrategias para la realización del cuidado. La evidencia generada es incipiente y apunta a la necesidad de realizar más estudios en el área.(AU)

Nursing challenges caring for bone marrow transplantation patients with graft versus host disease.

Nursing care of blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) patients is complicated. Nursing considerations of BMT patients with GVHD require an additional set of skills and knowledge that include side effects, both expected and less common, assessment skills, treatment administration, both standard and novel, and acute or intensive care. Nursing care of BMT patients with skin GVHD will be determined by the degree of skin alteration with distinct decisions made about hygiene, both topical and systemic treatment, infection prevention, relief of discomfort, functional ability (ADL) and body image alteration. The nurse needs to have knowledge about assessment criteria for acute and chronic (NIH) assessment with special attention to skin (presence of rash, texture, mobility), joint mobility, mouth care, dressings, and skin care products. Nursing consideration of gastrointestinal GVHD includes importance of accurate intake and output, obtaining culture, fluid and electrolyte imbalance, nutrition, treatment, and skin care. Complication of GVHD treatment, namely effects of steroids require experts from many disciplines to provide comprehensive care. Caring and advocating for GVHD patients may include preparing for outcomes that are undesirable and impact the patient's quality of life and mortality. BMT survivorship programs are a major source of patient education about chronic GVHD for patients after treatment. Caring for BMT patients, especially those experiencing GVHD, takes a knowledgeable, committed, and caring team of healthcare providers. Workshops like this are vital in providing information and networking to keep providers around the region and globe engaged in this critical work.

Photography in Telemedicine: Improving Diagnosis of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease.

BACKGROUND: The long-term follow-up (LTFU) team at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance uses telemedicine to diagnose and treat post-transplantation complications in hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors. Photos are often requested via the telemedicine service to aid in diagnosis, but they are typically of poor quality, making them unusable. OBJECTIVES: This project offered bachelor of science in nursing students, partnered with a comprehensive cancer center, the opportunity to participate in an evidence-based practice project to improve detection and management of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) in patients after HCT. METHODS: Students partnered with RNs to develop instructional tools using multiple evidence sources. A brochure and video were developed. FINDINGS: Providing these instructional tools to those in the LTFU program improved patient outcomes for managing cGVHD through telemedicine. This partnership provided an opportunity for mutual learning and improved clinical practice.

Application of Proteomics in Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Management: An Integrative Review and Nursing Implications.

BACKGROUND: After allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, one of the major barriers to clinical management of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is a lack of reliable and validated noninvasive tests for diagnosis and prognosis. Proteomic studies have indicated a strong correlation between the level of certain body fluid proteins and clinical outcomes after aGVHD. Specific proteins have been identified that could be robust biomarkers for overall prognosis or for differential diagnosis of target organs in aGVHD. OBJECTIVES: The authors aimed to evaluate the literature related to proteomic biomarkers that are indicated in the occurrence, severity, and management of aGVHD. METHODS: PubMed and CINAHL® databases were searched for articles published from January 2004 to June 2014. Eight articles matching the inclusion criteria were identified, and the findings of these articles were summarized and their clinical implications noted. FINDINGS: Proteomics appears to be a promising tool to assist oncology nurses and nurse practitioners with patient education, develop personalized plans of care to reduce morbidity, initiate communication regarding end-of-life decisions, and improve overall nursing management of the population of patients with aGVHD.

Graft-versus-host disease in oncology nursing practice.

INTRODUCTION: Gastrointestinal graft-versus-host disease (GI-GvHD) is extremely debilitating and is multifactorial in its causative factors, management and treatment. It is an exaggeration of normal physiological mechanisms wherein the donor immune system attempts to rid itself of the host. The inflammatory process that follows has the benefit of providing an anti-tumour effect for many diseases, but unfortunately in patients undergoing human stem-cell transplantation, the nature of the inflammation can result in disability, wasting and death. AIM: The aim of this article is to discuss the pathophysiology of this often misunderstood or misdiagnosed condition, as well as its signs and symptoms, management and considerations for nursing care. Considerations for nursing practice: While the medical management is aimed at minimising GvHD through the reduction of T-cell production and proliferation and gastrointestinal decolonisation, the nursing care is often focused on the signs and symptoms that can have the most prominent impact on patients. CONCLUSION: GI-GvHD has serious life-threatening complications, namely wasting syndrome, diarrhoea and dehydration. The basis of signs and symptomology is easily recognisable owing to the stages of progression through the human stem-cell transplantation process. Oncology nurses are in a prime position to identify these serious risks, initiate treatment immediately and collaborate effectively within the multidisciplinary team to minimise GvHD onset and provide expert support to patients, family and caregivers.

Review of therapies for the treatment of oral chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Oral chronic graft-versus-host disease is a frequent complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, contributing to patient morbidity and mortality. Although an optimal treatment is not available, several systemic and topical or local therapies have shown efficacy in treating the disease. New therapies are being tested through clinical trials. This article examines the efficacy and safety of reported treatment modalities studied from 2006-2012. Nurses will encounter patients with oral chronic graft-versus-host disease suffering from pain, discomfort, and a decreased quality of life. Knowledge of new therapies found to be effective in managing these symptoms is imperative. Nurses play a key role in the assessment and management of this complex oral disease.

Management of faecal incontinence in graft-versus-host disease.

Graft-versus-host disease (GvHD), a common yet serious complication of allogeneic haemopoietic stem cell transplantation, can cause significant morbidity and negatively impact on patients' quality of life. The gastrointestinal tract is frequently affected resulting in nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and profuse diarrhoea (Washington and Jagasia, 2009) which can be both distressing and humiliating for patients. The volume of watery, green diarrhoea produced can be greater than 2 litres per day (Ferrara et al, 2009) and is one indicator of the severity of GvHD. It may, in some cases, lead to faecal incontinence. Management of GvHD-associated diarrhoea involves the use of high-dose steroids to control the exaggerated immune response, anti-diarrhoeal medication, management of fluid and electrolytes, and nutritional management. It may also require management of faecal incontinence and prevention of incontinence-associated dermatitis. This paper describes the pathology of GvHD, the management of GvHD-associated diarrhoea and faecal incontinence and discusses the potential use of a faecal management system inappropriately selected individuals with uncontrolled diarrhoea and limited mobility.

Management of chronic graft-versus-host disease.

Chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is an immune-mediated disorder that adversely affects quality of life and clinical outcomes in patients following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Conventional treatment of GVHD includes prolonged and high-dose corticosteroids; however, those drugs are associated with multiple side effects. This article describes the ability of extracorporeal photopheresis therapy to exhibit a steroid-sparing effect, which can reduce long-term complications as a consequence of steroid treatment.

Graft-versus-host disease: a complex long-term side effect of hematopoietic stem cell transplant.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT)/bone marrow transplantation (BMT) has become a central treatment modality in the management of various hematologic malignancies, but it is not without treatment sequelae. The major complication of HSCT/BMT is acute or chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). GVHD is an immunologically mediated disease that contributes substantially to transplant-related morbidity and mortality. The overall incidence of GVHD remains between 30% and 60% and carries approximately a 50% mortality rate. Acute and chronic GVHD are complex clinical phenomena. This paper focuses on our current clinical understanding of GVHD as a multiphase process intricately linked to the immune response between the donor (graft) and recipient (host). Based on this complex pathophysiology, clinical nursing care is targeted at the various body systems affected by either acute or chronic GVHD. The article concludes with advances and clinical trials underway that have the potential to reduce the symptomatology of GVHD.

Measurement of nursing care time of specific interventions on a hematology-oncology unit related to diagnostic categories.

The aim of this study was to develop a tool that can aid nurse managers in planning nurse staffing levels and assessing workload in hematology-oncology wards. A task-oriented method based on a time-and-motion study was used. Three general nursing procedures and 7 specific oncologic and hematologic activities were clocked. It was checked in the charts of the patient, for each day of the admission, how often selected nursing procedures were performed. Then total amount of time needed for each patient was calculated. Data from 29 admissions to the ward were analyzed and divided into 5 categories based upon the treatment performed during that admission. The categories chosen were: autologous stem cell transplantation, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, graft versus host reaction, leukemia treatment, and chemotherapy for solid neoplasm. The results obtained are an estimate of the different daily workload that is required for these categories of patients in selected nursing procedures.

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation and graft-versus-host disease: a case study.

Peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is an acceptable treatment option for children with hematologic malignancies that are refractory to traditional treatments. Reports in the literature suggest that acute graft-verus-host disease (aGVHD), a common complication of peripheral blood stem cell transplantation, is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. aGVHD, a complex immunologic response, is reported in allogeneic transplants in which there is antigen presentation and activation of the donor T cell. The release of cytokines from the activated lymphocytes results in host cell death. This article reports on a 3-year-old child with a hematologic malignancy who, upon relapse, had received an identically matched allogeneic stem cell transplant from a sibling. Prophylaxis against aGVHD included several immunosuppressive agents. The dosage and serum levels of mycophenolate mofetil and tacrolimus were carefully monitored; however, the aGVHD progressed to include the liver and gut. As the child continued to deteriorate the aggressive treatment against aGVHD continued without success. A review of this case of aGVHD will provide nurses a knowledge base that is necessary to provide optimal care to the patient and family members alike.

[Acute graft versus host disease: a retrospective analysis of 55 bone marrow transplant patients]. / Acute graft versus host disease. Analisi retrospettiva in 55 pazienti sottoposti a trapianto di midollo osseo.

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in long-term survivors of allogenic stem cell transplantation. This retrospective study describes the problems occurring in stem cell transplanted patients. Data were collected from medical and nursing records of the 55 patients admitted to the Stem Cell transplant ward of Careggi Hospital, and affected by GVHD from December 1991 to October 2000. Fifty per cent of the patients had skin problems and 24 gastrointestinal problems. The mean duration of the GVHD is 19 days. Many patients exhibit behaviours of intense anxiety, depression and restlessness. The results are comparable with data published in the most recent literature and show the complexity and severity of the GVHD. The patients affected require high levels of care therefore the nurse performs a pivotal role in symptoms monitoring and care.