Central venous access device terminologies, complications, and premature reasons for removal in patients with cancer: A scoping review.

Introduction Lack of agreed terminology and definitions in healthcare compromises communication, patient safety, optimal management of adverse events, and research progress. Central venous access devices (CVADs) are critical for effective and efficient management of patients with cancer because they facilitate urgent, acute or prolonged access to the bloodstream for the administration of systemic anticancer therapies and supportive therapies and repeated blood sampling. Variance in protocols, procedures, and practices result in poor vascular access outcomes. Objectives/Aims The aim of this scoping review was to understand the terminologies used to describe the devices, CVADassociated complications and reasons for premature removal in people undergoing cancer treatment. The objective was to map language and descriptions used and to explore opportunities for standardisation. Method An a priori protocol for this scoping review based on the five stages of Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework guided this review. The search strategy aligned with the broader format of population, concept and context format was utilised. The search of MedLine, PubMed, Cochrane, CINAHL Complete and Embase databases was undertaken and data was extracted in Covidence. Results The search identified 31,877 records, and 292 studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 213 unique descriptors were used to refer to CVADs, with all reasons for premature CVAD removal defined in 84 (44%) of the 193 studies only, and complications defined in 56 (57%) of the 292 studies. Where available, definitions were author-derived and/or from national resources and/or other published studies. Conclusion Substantial variation in CVAD terminology and a lack of standard definitions for associated complications and premature removal reasons was identified. This scoping review demonstrates the need to standardise CVAD nomenclature to enhance communication between healthcare professionals as patients undergoing cancer treatment transition between acute and long-term care, to enhance patient safety and rigor of research protocols, and improve the capacity for data sharing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]