ABSTRACT
Background: Peripheral neuropathy seems to be a significant problem for the management of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy treatment. Peripheral neuropathy is the end result of peripheral, motor, sensory, and autonomic neuron damage secondary to neurotoxic chemotherapy agents that inactivate the components required to maintain the metabolic needs.
Aim: A systematic review of current data in the literature regarding the occurrence of peripheral neuropathy in patients taking antineoplastic therapy, in order to identify the interventions of nursing care aimed at recognizing and managing symptoms of peripheral neuropathy, and the precautionary measures that can taken to prevent their occurrence.
Method: A critical review of research articles was made, using the electronic databases Medline, Embase, HEAL-Link, and the Google Scholar. The chosen of the articles based on the English language, the plan of investigation, the specific time of every study done and the pain of neuropathy. For these purpose we select 17 primary studies from 57 references which tried to manage the pain of neuropathy after chemotherapy treatment.
Results: Most of pharmacological methods such as vitamin E, gloutamine, gloutathione, antidepresses and opioids and non pharmacological methods such as acupuncture, psychological support and electrotherapy seem to be effective on the management of the pain of neuropathy after chemotherapy can be used as alternative therapy by the nurses.
Conclusions: The currently applied non-invasive pharmacological and non pharmacological analgesic methods seems to play a key role in the management of neuropathic pain and can be used as alternative therapy by the nurses.
Keywords: chemotherapy, peripheral neuropathy, pain, nursing management.