Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2008
Sonographically guided venous puncture and fluoroscopically guided placement of tunneled, large-bore central venous catheters for bone marrow transplantation-high success rates and low complication rates.
Traditionally, large lumen, tunneled central venous catheters have been implanted by surgeons. We used a technique of sonographically guided jugular venous puncture and fluoroscopically guided catheter placement to achieve a high rate of technical success and to reduce complication rates. ⋯ Percutaneous implantation of large-lumen, tunneled, central venous catheters can be achieved with a high technical success rate and a low complication rate under combined sonographic and fluoroscopic guidance. In cases of mechanical complications, catheter rescue by interventional techniques is possible in the vast majority of cases.
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2008
Cost-effectiveness analysis of aprepitant in the prevention of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting in Belgium.
Chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting (CINV) remains a major adverse effect of cancer chemotherapy which may increase morbidity, reduce quality of life and threaten the success of cancer therapy. Aprepitant is effective in preventing CINV, achieving higher complete response (no emesis and no rescue therapy) compared to standard prevention, in patients receiving either highly (HEC) or moderately emetogenic chemotherapy (MEC; absolute reduction = 11 and 13%, respectively). We assessed the cost effectiveness of aprepitant-based vs standard prevention in these indications in Belgium. ⋯ In both approaches, the aprepitant-based strategy is more effective and less expensive compared to standard care.
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Support Care Cancer · Aug 2008
Is cancer-related fatigue more strongly correlated to haematological or to psychological factors in cancer patients?
Cancer-related fatigue is a very frequent problem in cancer, interfering with many patients' life activities. Anaemia is present in a large number of fatigued patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate cancer-related fatigue, in relation with haematic haemoglobin levels and the presence of anxiety and depression. ⋯ Anxiety and depression, other than heamoglobin levels, were found associated with fatigue. Hence, implications for a multi-dimensional treatment of fatigue are discussed.
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Support Care Cancer · Jul 2008
Performance of a modified MASCC index score for identifying low-risk febrile neutropenic cancer patients.
This is a prospective and observational study comparing the efficacy of risk-assessment models in patients with neutropenic fever in a reference treatment center. The meaning of the complex infection was evaluated. ⋯ The MASCC risk-index score had high sensitivity and specificity to predict the absence of complications, but the PACI model was better than MASCC for predicting the absence of complications in this febrile neutropenic patients.
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Support Care Cancer · Jul 2008
ReviewThe existential plight of cancer: meaning making as a concrete approach to the intangible search for meaning.
Despite modern advances that have led to improved prognoses and symptom management, a cancer diagnosis continues to evoke images of pain, suffering, and death. ⋯ The meaning-making intervention is presented as one concrete approach to address the normative distress associated with the search for meaning within the context of cancer.