Factors Influencing Venous Pain in Patients with Cancer Receiving Gemcitabine
Rasarudee Sriwisai RN1, Jutamas Munpichai RN1, Kanjana Sajai RN1, Naritorn Intarabut RN1, Thanutchaporn Prangjan RN1, Pattarawan Udta RN1, Nahathai Phanyasuk RN1, Benjamas Preechakoon PhD1, Dararat Chuwongin RN1, Phongthara Vichitvejpaisal MD, PhD2
Affiliation : 1 Chemotherapy Unit, Chulabhorn Hospital, HRH Princess Chulabhorn College of Medical Science, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, Bangkok, Thailand 2 Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Background : Gemcitabine is a chemotherapy drug used to treat several cancers. Nevertheless, pain is an adverse effect
during drug administration.
Objective : To study the contributing factors relating to venous discomfort during Gemcitabine administration.
Materials and Methods : This is a retrospective study to investigate the factors including gender, age, drug, formula, dosage,
time, type and volume of solution, duration, and site of administration have been retrospectively evaluated in cancer patients
receiving Gemcitabine. As the occurrence of venous pain is approximately 37% of the time and each variable requires 10 times
of drug administration to prove for pain distress, the calculated sample size was 372 from 72 patients. The pain discomfort
was recorded by using numeric rating scale. A p of less than 0.05 was considered statistical significance.
Results : Patients receiving Gemcitabine intravenously suffered with pain at 5.1% of the time relating to the site of venipuncture
at Basilic vein (p<0.005), at the fourth to the ninth cycle of drug administration (p<0.003), female patients (p<0.024), and
patients younger than 65 years (p<0.032) in a successive order. Nevertheless, there were no correlations to other factors.
Discussion: The Basilic vein was a less-aching site, since it is a large superficial vein. Patients at the fourth to the ninth cycle
of drug administration experienced this distress dramatically, possibly because of the drug(s) accumulating and affecting the
venous framework. Female, younger than 65 years underwent this concern more than the younger. This might due to the elder
member having accumulated experience of pain through their life.
Conclusion : Venous pain among subjects receiving Gemcitabine is an adverse effect during administration. However, nurses
can reduce venous pain by selecting Basilic vein to administer Gemcitabine.
Keywords : Venous pain, Gemcitabine Administration, Chemotherapy
