The importance of nursing care in managing complications related to fully-implantable catheters

Abstract

This is an experience report of a thirty-year-old female patient, diagnosed with recurrence of Acute Myeloid Leukemia, submitted to catheter implantation and presenting surgical wound necrosis. The following were used with success: collagenase, calcium alginate and oil lotion with essential fatty acids. It was found that the complications related to catheters are a great challenge in oncology nursing besides implying a delay in the oncological treatment. Making a correct decision as soon as possible is extremely important and avoids removing the catheter too soon.