Nursing care in the subcutaneous administration of enoxaparin in adult patients: a systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: Enoxaparin has caused cardiac complications due to poor administration; the probability increases when combined with other risk factors.

Objective: Analyze the evidence of nursing care in the application technique of enoxaparin.

Methodology: Review using evidence-based nursing steps: definition of the clinical question, search based on terms DeCS in English, Spanish and Portuguese, in the databases of SciELO, LILACS, CUIDEN, Medline, REDALyC, CINAHL, and bidi UNAM. We used an instrument constituted by: title, author(s), year of publication, lan-guage, the area of knowledge, level of evidence, the degree of recommendation, results and conclusion. The content analysis generated three dimensions.

Results: 69.7% published in English; Spain generated more articles (23.2%); 53.4% had level of evidence IV/C. The dimension risk factors: patient-related or treatment-related: polypharmacy and drug interactions, >60- 75 years, prolonged use, cardiologic diagnosis. The technique of administration: slowly speed, waiting before withdrawing the needle. Finally, complications: such as hematomas of the abdominal wall, cutaneous necrosis.

Conclusion: Nursing care in the administration of enoxaparin should be based on an adequate assessment to identify risk factors and reduce the likelihood of complications.