Prospective clinical evaluation of a safety Huber needle PolyPerf® Safe in cancer patients

Introduction: Totally implantable central venous access devices (TIVADs) are widely used for intravenous therapy in cancer populations. By withdrawal of the Huber needle, the non-dominant hand is vulnerable to a 'rebound' stick. The PolyPerf Safe (PS) Huber needle (Laboratoires Perouse, lvry-le-Temple, France) is developed to increase safe use by health care professionals. We conducted a study to evaluate the safety and user-friendliness by end-users. Methods: A prospective descriptive study carried out at the University Hospitals Leuven (Belgium). Five hundred PS needles were evaluated on an individual basis in cancer patients. Different aspects of the PS were assessed: packaging, needle insertion and needle removal. Nurses indicated if they inserted or removed the needle for the first time or not. Comparison with the standard Gripper· needle was assessed only in terms of 'safety' and 'ease of use and training'. Results: Three hundred sixty-six forms were analysed. No statistical difference was found between first and non-first users. Packaging and access evaluations were scored in general positively except for two aspects: (1) needle stability and (2) ease of dressing. The 'ease of removal' was scored unsatisfactory in up to 22.4% of the registrations. Pain at insertion was recorded in about one in five registrations and blood contact in 2.5% of non-first users. The safety aspect was scored good however the 'ease in use' and 'ease in training' scored in 25.4 to 43.8% less than the Gripper'. Discussion and conclusions: Nurses evaluated the PS in general positively with exception of 'needle stability'; 'ease of dressing' and 'ease of removal'. No needlestick accidents were recorded. Aspects of 'ease in use' and 'ease of training' scored less compared to the Gripper' in up to one-third of the registrations.