Abstract
Purpose
The principal aim of this study is to analyze the incidence of late complications
in oncologic patients with totally implanted central venous access ports.
Methods
A prospective multicenter observational study was conducted in 26 Italian oncologic
outpatient clinics. 1076 cancer patients with Totally Implanted Central Venous Access
Ports (TIAP) were observed. 515 devices were observed in patients under treatment
and 561 in patients who went to the outpatient clinic only for flushing.
Results
Late complications observed in patients under treatment were: 3 pocket infections
(0.09/1000 days of port observation), 1 cutaneous infection (0.03/1000 days of port
observation), 8 occlusions (0.24/1000 days of port observation) and 12 others.
In patients using the device only for flushing we observed 4 cases of device related
bacteremia (0.04/1000 days of port observation), 1 pocket infection (0.01/1000 days
of port observation), 1 cutaneous infection (0.01/1000 days of port observation),
3 occlusions (0.03/1000 days of port observation) and 7 other complications.
Conclusions
The low incidence of complications suggests that TIAP is safe and reliable for long
term intermittent venous access. Our results support the use of TIAP in the oncology
patients.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 17, 2010
Identification
Copyright
© 2010 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
