Abstract

Totally implanted venous catheter provides safe and comfortable long-term vascular access. Implantation and removal of the catheter is associated with low risk of complication. Our objetive is to report the experience with 278 ports implanted by a single surgeon in our institution. To be selected for the procedure patients needed: histological proven cancer, estimated survival of more then 3 months and indication of systemic chemoterapy. Surgical and maintenance protocols were previousily defined. Between 3/90 and 3/98, 278 catheters were implanted in 272 patients. The study average follow-up is 382 days (5-2897), with a total of 106.457 days. Mean age of the patients was 50,2 years and female patients comprised 64,8% of the population. Access vein were: internal jugular (67,9%), external jugular (26,5%), saphena (2,2%), cephelic (1,7%) and subclavia (1,7%). The most commom complication was reversible obstruction (0,26/1000 days); hematoma ( 6,11% of the total population e 62% of the in leukemic patients), leaking (0,2/1000 days); thombosis ( 0,03/1000 days); occurred less frequently. Twenty episodies of infection were reported 0,19/1000 days: lumen (6), peri-porth (7) and sepsis (7). Thirty-four ports were removed, 26 due to complications and 8 at the end of the treatment. Currently, 45,2% of the patients are alive with funcional catheters. Among all patients, 74,5% had no catheter-related complication. In our experience, catheters represent a safe and efficient adjuvant in cancer patients. Leukemic patients are at high risk for complications, mainly hematomas.

Key words: long-term venous access, catheter, indwelling, vascular access, cancer