Objective: To clarify the complications associated with subcutaneous central venous access port devices, we investigated the patients who underwent placement of central venous access port devices in our hospital.
Methods: Overall, 171 cancer patients who underwent placement of subcutaneous central venous access port devices (119 for chemotherapy and 52 for home parenteral nutrition) between February 2006 and December 2011 and who were followed up for 1 month, were retrospectively analyzed in this study. Univariate analysis was performed on complications related to clinical factors, including age, gender, insertion sites, intended purposes, duration of catheterization, surgeons, catheter materials, and use of bevacizumab.
Results: The mean follow-up time was 213 days (range, 31-1,873), and 35 patients (20.5%) required the port device to be extracted due to complications, including infection in 24(14.0%), wound dehiscence at the port site in 2 (1.2%), obstruction of the catheter in 6 (3.5%), catheter-induced venous thrombosis in 1 (0.6%), and catheter fracture in 2(1.2%). No statistically significant differences were observed between the frequency of complications and age, gender, insertion sites, intended purposes, duration of catheterization, surgeons, catheter materials, or use of bevacizumab.
Conclusion: The incidences of complications related to implantation and management of these devices are relatively high and early. Patients should be followed carefully by chest radiography at regular intervals.