Repositioning of dysfunctional displaced central-venous port-catheters with appropriate catheter-length is safe and effective. Even challenging conditions, e.g., wall-adherent port-catheter tip or a thrombosed catheter-bearing vein are feasible. Repositioning of too short port-catheters is ineffective.

Difficult aspiration combined with high resistance to injection fluids or suboptimal port-catheter position are strong independent predictors for port-catheter thrombosis. Local low-dose thrombolysis or repeat thrombolysis is safe and effective in the absence of large central venous thrombosis.