Survey on the Side Effects of the Vesicant Chemotherapy

Choi, Eun Sook; Kim, Keum Soon; Joo, Myung Soon; Kim, Bok Ja

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify side effects of the vesicant chemotherapy. The study was designed to be a descriptive survey. The subjects of this study were 88 patients with various types of cancer, primary lung cancer(25.0%), advanced gastric cancer(25.0%), breast cancer(20.5%), etc. The mean age was 44.8 years old(range: 16-68). The questionnaire was completed by nurses of the outpatient unit and chemotherapy ward, and intravenous nurse specialist. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Chemotherapy was administered with a 23G scalp needle and 24G insyte. Injection site was dorsum of hands (64.7%), cephalic vein(19.3%). Successful rate for the first attempt was 88.6%. The first & second cycle chemotherapy was 29.5% each.. Mainly used drugs were Navelbine(34.1%), Adriamycin(20.5%). 2) Venous problems after chemotherapy were pain(13.6%) incurred by venous, mainly due to the administration of Navelbine; redness at the inravenous site(12.5%) and itching sense 2.3%. Non-venous problems were nausea (18.2%), dullness(14.8%), vomiting(8.0%), facial flushing(6.8%), anxiety(5.7%). Subjective discomforts after chemotherapy were generalized arm pain at the injection side(14.8%), dizziness(6.8%), weakness(5.7%) and general bodyache (5.7%). Systemic anaphylactic reaction and extravasation did not occur. 3) Non-venous problem after chemotherapy were nausea, vomiting & anorexia. Frequency of chemotherapy related to side effects were itching, facial flushing, and nausea(p<0.05). Day of chemothe-rapy related to side effects were nausea & vomiting(p<0.05). Site of chemothe- rapy related to side effects were redness(p<0.05). Frequency of venipuncture related to side effects were redness(p<0.05). Conclusively, cancer chemotherapy patients have had some venous problem. They need appropriate venous access devices for chemotherapy. And other non-venous problem will be managed appropriately. Further research was required to identify the rate of venous complication or side effects of vesicant chemotherapy.