The Effects of Cancer’s Metastatic Status and Chemotherapy on Totally Implantable Venous Access Port Patency and Port-Related Venous Thromboembolic Events

Abstract

Objectives: Totally implantable venous access port(TIVAP) is of great importance as a vascular access route in the treatment of cancer patients. In this study, we researched the effects of cancer types, metastases, chemotherapeutic drugs, and intervention sites on port patency and TIVAP-related venous thromboembolism(VTE). Methods: Demographics, cancer types, metastases, vascular access sites, chemotherapy drugs, TIVAP patency and TIVAP related complications were evaluated in 297 patients who had TIVAP implanted and 37 patients who underwent removal in our clinic between 2017-2021. Results: TIVAP implanted 297 patients were followed-up for a mean 17.7±16.6 months. TIVAPs were removed in 37 patients due to infection 14(4.7%), occlusion 8(2.7%), VTE 9(3%), malposition 1(0.3%), and treatment completion 10(3.3%). TIVAPs of 270(90.9%) patients were found to be usable for an average of 18.5±17.1 months. Complications of VTE, occlusion, infection and malposition developed in a total of 71(23.9%) patients. In the comparison of develepment of these complications according to the presence of metastasis in patients, it was found to be that they were significantly higher in metastatic patients(47-27.9% / 24-18.6% p