Complications related to peripheral venipuncture and hypodermoclysis in cancer patients under palliative care

Abstract

Objective: to identify complications related to peripheral venipuncture and hypodermoclysis in cancer patients hospitalized under palliative care. Method: this is a descriptive and longitudinal study. A questionnaire was used for the sociodemographic and clinical characterization of participants, a script for puncture assessment and monitoring. The data were ran through descriptive statistics. Results: seventy patients participated in the study, 54.3% (n=38) of whom were female and with a mean age of 68.8 years (SD = 15.0), whose main underlying oncological diseases were head cancer and neck and lung. Furthermore, 90% of assessed punctures were intravenous and the most frequent complications were localized pain, extravasation and a bent or pulled catheter. Conclusion: the complications observed during the study period were related only to venipunctures. There was a predominance of peripheral venipuncture due to the subcutaneous route, a viable and recommended alternative for cancer patients under palliative care.

Keywords

• cuidados paliativos
• hipodermóclise
• infusões subcutâneas
• cateterismo periférico
• oncologia