Advantages of Using Skin Glue in Port Catheter Placement in Oncology Patients

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study is to reveal the advantages of N-Butyl-2-cyanoacrylate, which is used as skin glue (SG) in closing the port catheter incision site in oncology patients receiving chemotherapy (CT). Methods: This study, patients who had a port catheter placed between January -December 2019 were included. A total of 76 port catheters were placed in 74 patients (32 females, 42 males). Thirty-seven patients were assigned to the control group, and their incision site was closed with sutures. Thirty-seven patients were assigned to the study group, and N-Butyl-2-cyanoacrylate was used. The patients' pain thresholds were evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: 37 patinets (17 females, 20 males, mean age: 57.27±15.79 SD years, range: 15-81) in the control group had their port pockets closed with sutures. The remaining 37 patients (15 females, 22 males, mean age: 58.13±15.79 SD years, range: 19-79) had SG applied. After the procedure, the skin was closed with traditional sutures in the control group and with SG in the other group. Conclusion: In CT-planned oncology patients, the use of SG instead of traditional sutures is preferred and should be implemented more frequently to prevent complications, particularly infections.