Intravenous chemotherapy in cancer treatment

Intravenous chemotherapy is a method of putting chemicals into the patient's body by intravenous route to kill cancer cells. During chemotherapy, patients should be closely monitored for possible complications, especially in the first 30 minutes.

Most cancer chemotherapy drugs are given directly into a patient's peripheral vein (small vein) using a small, flexible plastic tube called a catheter. A needle is used to inject into a blood vessel in the forearm or arm, when the needle is removed, the catheter is left in the vein. Thus, the drug is infused into the blood vessels in the following ways:
Rapid intravenous chemotherapy : Short duration of just a few minutes, also known as intravenous injection; Slow intravenous chemotherapy : Over a period of 30 minutes to several hours. Accordingly, a mixture of medicine and solution is contained in a special plastic bag or plastic / glass bottle, connected to a wire, and then inserted into the patient's peripheral vein through a catheter. The rate of infusion of oncology is adjusted by a control knob or knob on the infusion machine. In some cases, the technician can keep the catheter in place for 1 to 7 days to maintain a continuous infusion of fluids at a fixed rate and controlled by the infusion machine. Then, the catheter is removed and a new line is injected for the next chemotherapy session. The disadvantage of peripheral intravenous chemotherapy is that the needle and catheter are placed in the arm vein, which is a small vein that is most likely to scar and damage the vein during long-term chemotherapy. Over time, this injury will make it more difficult for nurses, since each time the line must be inserted into an already damaged vein. In addition, patients often feel uncomfortable if the procedure is not favorable. Even patients feel pain and inconvenience, especially in patients with fatigue, exhaustion, chronic pain due to cancer.
Therefore, another option for cancer chemotherapy is infusion of drugs into a large vein, called the central (or central) vein. This vein is closer to the heart, allowing chemicals to go right into the large circulation, limiting damage to the peripheral veins.

For the central intravenous line, the drug infusion becomes more convenient, limiting the damage to the veins from chemicals, in addition, it is possible to draw blood for testing when needed relatively easily without having to re-inject.
Currently there are several types of central venous catheters, including:
Flexible tubes, which can be fixed externally in the neck or chest area without the need for needles. The type of intravenous chamber, shaped like a small drum, is connected to the central vein. This injector has long-term retention in the chest, neck or arm (up to 10 years). Accordingly, the technician needs to use a special needle to be able to pass through the skin to the injection chamber when used. When administering intravenous chemotherapy to a patient, it is necessary to have a central line large enough and stable enough to complete one or more steps in the cancer chemotherapy regimen, to help staff work. more convenient medical care, limiting the occurrence of complications during infusion, and at the same time creating a feeling of peace of mind and comfort for the patient.
In many cases, patients are placed in an intravenous chamber right from the start of cancer treatment with chemotherapy, or right after surgery, the cancer has stabilized. The doctor is the one who advises, assigns and plans to choose the type of injection chamber suitable for each specific situation.
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Reference source: kcb.vn