Totally implantable central venous port catheters: a 10-year single-center experience -

Abstract

Totally implantable port catheters facilitate the administration of cytotoxic drugs, antibiotics, blood products and fluids in children with hematologic and oncologic diseases or organ failures. The aim of this study is to evaluate the characteristics of patients and results of port catheter insertions. We retrospectively reviewed demographic and clinical properties of 224 children who underwent implantable port catheter insertions in order to receive long-term intravenous treatment between 2003 and 2013. Port catheters were implanted in 224 patients (124 female and 100 male). The mean age of patients was 5.04±3.75 years (2 months-18 years). The most common oncologic diagnose was acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Seventy-two port catheters were removed due to infection in 40 and completion of treatment in 32 patients. 25 of 152 port catheters inserted via subclavian puncture and 15 of 90 port catheters inserted via jugular cut down were removed due to infection (P=0.965). Port catheters were inserted 3 times in 3 patients and 2 times in 15 patients. The mean duration of usage was 442.5±381.3 days among patients whose catheters were removed due to infection and 964.4±298.8 days among patients whose treatments were completed (P<0.001). Pneumothorax or hemothorax were observed in none of the cases. Four patients needed revision of eroded skin over the chamber. We were not able to remove the catheter from right jugular vein in a patient due to firm adhesion of catheter to the vessel wall. Catheter migration occurred in one patient and removed by endovascular procedure. Implantable