The following case studies describe the use of the Smith Medical implanted ports and Gripper huber needles. Smiths Medical produces a range of implanted ports that include the Port-A-Cath and P.A.S. Port Power P.A.C. systems. The ports are easy to implant, maintain and remove. They are lightweight and have features that are designed to reduce complication rates, including a highly compressed septum to increase needle retention, a titanium chamber with a gouge-resistant floor, a bevelled chamber for optimal rinsing, a round shape to avoid overturning and the Ultralock connection. They are available in various configurations, with single and dual lumens. There is also a needle for power-injection of contrast media for certain types of diagnostic imaging scans (Smith Medical 18). The Gripper Plus needle is designed with an emphasis on safety, effectiveness and patient comfort. These non-coring needles have a bevelled tip that sits flush with the back of the port without impeding the flow of fluid; this also prevents holes forming in the septum ( Barton et al, 2018 ). The needle is available in different gauges and lengths, which can be tailored to reflect individual patient needs and the amount of adipose tissue present. It is essential to select the correct size, which will reduce the risk of dislodgement. The Gripper needles are compatible with paclitaxel and lipid solutions, and are recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (1999) . They are compatible with both the Port-a-Cath and P.A.S. Port Power P.A.C. systems, and can be ordered from the same manufacturer, which has the potential to make ordering, training and support more efficient.
The establishment of advanced nurse practitioners (ANPs) has expanded considerably in recent years and shown to result in substantial contributions to numerous fields of health care. Due to advancements in treatments and innovations in medicine, patients with cancer are living longer, requiring a multifactorial holistic approach in which ANPs, due to their skills and knowledge, can be best utilised, as they are able to provide the expert care required at various stages of the patient journey. This article explores scopes of practice from ANPs working with oncology patients in a tertiary cancer centre, making explicit their roles, in addition to highlighting experienced challenges and future directions of care.
Most patients in hospital will have some form of intravenous (IV) catheter in situ at some time to facilitate the administration of IV therapy. Accidental dislodgement, although widespread, is often unrecognised as a contributor to IV catheter failure. Dislodgement usually contributes to the delay in the administration of treatment, time-consuming IV restarts and a potential need for more invasive procedures. Dislodgement has serious implications, with costs to both patient and healthcare costs. Historically, prevention of IV catheter dislodgement has focused on the use of the correct securement methods and technique; however, these fail in many occasions, for example, where patients are confused or during bed transfers. In the recent years, new breakaway connector systems, such as ReLink, have been designed, which allow the tubing to become disconnected when undue pressure or pull is placed on it. This is done by a safety release valve that breaks apart, sealing off both ends of the tubing in an aseptic manner, while shutting off medication flow and preserving IV catheter integrity. Awareness raising and education focusing on accidental IV catheter dislodgement and the different ways to reduce its incidence in clinical practice would improve patient safety and potentially have significant healthcare savings.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.