Use of port-a-cath in cancer patients: a single-center experience

Abstract

Introduction: Central venous catheters play an important role in the management of cancer patients. Different types of devices are associated with different patterns of complications. We report on the pattern of use and rate of complications of port-a-caths in patients diagnosed with malignant cancer at a single institution. Methodology: The data were collected retrospectively from patients who received the treatment for solid tumors or lymphoma through a porta-cath at the Sultan Qaboos University Hospital (SQUH) between January 2007 and February 2013. Results: A total of 117 port-a-caths were inserted in 106 patients. The majority (86; 73.5%) were implanted by an interventional radiologist, and the right internal jugular vein was accessed in 79 (67.5%) patients. Mean catheter indwelling time was 354 (range 3-1,876) days for all patients, 252 (3-1,876) and 389 days (13-1,139) for patients with and without complications, respectively. Thirty (25.6%) port-a-caths were removed prematurely, mainly due to infectious complications, while 17 (14.5%) were removed after completion of treatment. Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated organism, found in 8 (6.8%) patients. Underlying diagnosis (p < 0.001), chemotherapy regimen (p < 0.001), sensitivity to antibiotics (p = 0.01), and any complication (p < 0.001) were significant factors affecting the duration of port-a-cath use. None of these factors were significant on multivariate cox regression analysis. Conclusions: The mean duration of port-a-cath use was almost one year. Infection was the most common complication leading to premature removal, followed by port thrombosis.

Eight‐week interval in flushing and locking port‐a‐cath in cancer patients: A single‐institution experience and systematic review

“…Central venous catheters play an important role in the management of cancer patients. Their introduction in the routine clinical practice has facilitated the vascular access, and their use is not limited to the safe administration of chemotherapeutic drugs, but also for prolonged endovascular administration of supportive care (D’Souza, ; Vescia et al, ; Zohu et al, ).…”

Revisión sistemática de las complicaciones de los dispositivos de administración de tratamiento al paciente oncológico

“…Las infecciones son las complicaciones más frecuentes de los Port-A-Cath, como han demostrado algunos estudios observacionales de pacientes con este tipo de dispositivo implantado (7,9,10,11,12,13,14) . Los pacientes oncológicos son más propensos a ellas que otro tipo de paciente debido a su inmunosupresión (15) .…”

“…En cuatro estudios sobre este dispositivo, solo había un caso de esta complicación en cada uno (6,12,14,21) . La ruptura del reservorio es dolorosa y crea un hematoma (29) ; en cuanto a la membrana, su rotura es muy poco probable, ya que esta puede ser puncionada alrededor de mil veces sin ser dañada (28) .…”

Managing chemotherapy extravasation in totally implantable central venous access: Use of subcutaneous wash-out technique

“…They are commonly used in patients who require long-term central venous access for chemotherapy. 2 The benefits of these ports, as opposed to tunnelled central lines or percutaneously inserted central catheters, include the ease with which medication can be administered, decreased risk of infection and improved quality of life for the patient. 3 extravasation.…”