ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE: This study is to compare rates of phlebitis and swelling caused by peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) via ipsilateral and contralateral arms in breast cancer patients. METHODS: A total of 147 breast cancer patients were randomly assigned to two groups: experimental group and control group. The experimental group received chemotherapy via PICC inserted in their ipsilateral arm to their cancer sites. The control group received chemotherapy in contralateral arm. This is to compare rates of phlebitis and swelling induced by the two different ways for PICC infusion of chemotherapy. RESULTS: The rate of phlebitis induced by ipsilateral PICC is 16.7%, which is significantly higher than 5.3% of contralateral PICC (P < 0.05). The swelling rate of ipsilateral PICC is 26.4%, which is also significantly higher than 6.7% of contralateral PICC (P < 0.01). In comparison with the control group, there were more patients from the experimental group who had to switch to other ways of drug infusion(P < 0,05). CONCLUSION: To better protect breast cancer patient's blood vessels, the ipsilateral arm should not be used as the first choice for the PICC infusion of chemotherapy.
關鍵詞及定義 乳腺癌:乳腺惡性腫瘤。 外周置入中心靜脈置導管(PICC):經外周靜脈穿刺將導管置入中心靜脈里(peripherally inserted central catheter)。 化療:化學藥物治療法。 靜脈炎:淺表靜脈內膜炎癥。 論文類型:類實驗性研究。