Effects of heparin catheter-sealing solution for implantable venous access ports on D-dimer levels in older cancer patients

X.-M. Gao, R. He, J.-F. Guan, L. Tian

Department I of Oncology, The Second Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China. stbv71x@163.com

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• Pharmacology

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of different concentrations of heparin catheter-sealing solution for implantable venous access ports (VAPs) on D-dimers (D-D) in older cancer patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 208 older cancer patients who received intravenous chemotherapy for the first time were randomly divided into four groups: the normal saline group, the low concentration heparin group (25 U/ml), the medium concentration heparin group (50 U/ml), and the high concentration heparin group (75 U/ml), with 52 patients in each group. VAPs were sealed by the positive pressure technique every day before and after perfusion, as well as at the end of a course of chemotherapy when the butterfly needle was removed. The patients were followed-up for three courses of chemotherapy, and comparisons of the clinical effects were conducted.

RESULTS: Before treatment and at the end of follow-up, no significant differences among groups were found in platelet count, prothrombin time, thrombin time, or activated partial thromboplastin time (p>0.05). At the end of follow-up, the high concentration heparin group had reduced fibrinogen (FIB) and increased D-D compared with the other groups, and the differences were statistically significant (p<0.05). The other three groups showed no significant differences in FIB or D-D before treatment or at the end of follow-up (p>0.05). The high concentration heparin group had higher local bleeding rate, while the saline group had higher partial and complete prevalence of blockage compared with the other groups. The differences were statistically significant (p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: 25-50 U/ml heparin catheter-sealing solution had little effect on blood circulation and coagulation. Additionally, it did not increase the risk of local bleeding or thrombotic blockage.

Published on: 2017/07/14

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