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[Huber needle in situ inpatients under continuous infusion chemotherapy: results of a study, Phase II]
A Milani1, S Vernizzi, C Passoni
1Divisione di Oncologia Medica, Instituto Europeo di Oncologia, Milano, Italia.
Purpose:
Chemotherapy administered as a continuous infusion is a widely used treatment in oncology. Huber needle deserves close attention during chemotherapy, but no data are reported on how long it can be left in situ without change. We therefore evaluated the feasibility of leaving in situ the needle for a prolonged time.
Methods:
Patients candidated to continuous infusion chemotherapy were considered eligible for the study. The needle was changed at the end of the 21-day period when the patient started a new cycle of chemotherapy. On that occasion the site of injection was evaluated while replacing the needle.
Results:
On 129 evaluable patients submitted to continuous infusion chemotherapy, 124 patients did not demonstrate any adverse cutaneous reaction. Five patients (3.8%) presented sores but we were able to continue the treatment leaving in situ the needle.
Conclusion:
Our results demonstrated that the needle can be left in situ for the entire time the patient is at home between cycles of chemotherapy. This procedure avoids patient stress and anxiety due to unjustified substitutions of the needle.