Explanation of Totally Implantable Venous Access Ports of the Forearm: Reasons for Removal and Observed Complications

Abstract

Removal of TIVAPs of the forearm shows a high technical success rate and a low complication rate. End of therapy is the most common indication for explantation. There is a low risk of interventional removal failure with a resulting need for open surgery to remove the device.

Analysis of peripheral central venous access ports at the forearm: An observational study

“…The number of ports studied was higher than in the study by Goltz et al (), similar to studies by Goltz et al (), Biffi et al () and Kawamura et al () and lower than studies by Wildgruber et al (; ), Marcy et al (), Marcy et al (), Goltz et al (), Lenhart et al () and Busch et al (), in which the number of ports studied ranged between 200 and 1,704. In general terms, the number of ports analysed was adequate in relation to the literature analysed.…”

“…Mean age of patients who had a port was 58.6 years, which was similar to the literature consulted (Biffi et al, ; Busch et al, ; Goltz et al, ; Goltz et al, ; Wildgruber et al, ), with means ranging between 52 and 59 years. The majority of the patients were women diagnosed with digestive and breast tumours.…”

“…The ports analysed also had a mean dwell‐time of 347.1 days, which is higher than in studies by Wildgruber et al () and Goltz et al (), similar to data in studies by Goltz et al (), Biffi et al (), Wildgruber et al () and Kawamura et al (), and lower than those by Marcy et al (), Lenhart et al () and Busch et al ().…”

“…The complications in this study, unlike in other studies, were registered in relation to the removal and administered treatment, and not in relation to the early or late onset of the complications (Biffi et al, ; Busch et al, ; Goltz et al, ; Goltz et al, ; Kawamura et al, ; Lenhart et al, ; Marcy et al, ; Marcy et al, ; Wildgruber et al, ; Wildgruber et al, ). In view of this, the study registered and analysed the signs of thrombosis, phlebitis, hematomas, infection and inflammation.…”

“…Of the total number of ports studied, there were 164 complications, 124 associated with blood drawings and 40 with the administration of treatments. These figures are higher than those shown in the other studies reviewed (Biffi et al, ; Busch et al, ; Goltz et al, ; Goltz et al, ; Kawamura et al, ; Lenhart et al, ; Marcy et al, ; Marcy et al, ) and lower than those by Wildgruber ( and ).…”