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Long-term Outcome of Peripherally Implanted Venous Access Ports in the Forearm in Female Cancer Patients

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Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this retrospective study was to analyze the long-term outcome of peripherally implanted venous access ports in the forearm at our institution in a female patient collective.

Methods

Between June 2002 and May 2011, a total of 293 female patients with an underlying malignancy had 299 forearm ports implanted in our interventional radiology suite. The mean age of the cohort was 55 ± 12 years (range 26–81 years). The majority of women suffered from breast (59.5 %) or ovarian cancer (28.1 %). Complications were classified as infectious complications, thrombotic and nonthrombotic catheter dysfunction (dislocation of the catheter or port chamber, fracture with/without embolization or kinking of the catheter, port occlusion), and others.

Results

We analyzed a total of 90,276 catheter days in 248 port systems (47 patients were lost to follow-up). The mean device service interval was 364 days per catheter (range 8–2,132, median 223 days, CI 311–415, SD 404). Sixty-seven early (≤30 days from implantation) or late complications (>30 days) occurred during the observation period (0.74/1,000 catheter days). Common complications were port infection (0.18/1,000 days), thrombotic dysfunction (0.12/1,000 days), and skin dehiscence (0.12/1,000 days). Nonthrombotic dysfunction occurred in a total of 21 cases (0.23/1,000 days) and seemed to cumulate on the venous catheter entry site on the distal upper arm.

Conclusion

Peripherally implanted venous access ports in the forearm are a safe alternative to chest or upper-arm ports in female oncology patients. Special attention should be paid to signs of skin dehiscence and nonthrombotic dysfunction, especially when used for long-term treatment.

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Conflict of interest

Laura Klösges, Carsten Meyer, Jack Boschewitz, Magnus Andersson, Christian Rudlowski, Hans H. Schild, and Kai Wilhelm have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Approval

For this type of study formal consent is not required.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Kai Wilhelm

    Present address: Department of Radiology, Ev. Kliniken Bonn, Johanniter-Krankenhaus, Johanniterstraße 3-5, 53113, Bonn, Germany

  2. Christian Rudlowski

    Present address: Department of Gynecology, Evangelisches Krankenhaus Bergisch Gladbach, Ferrenbergstraße 24, 51465, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127, Bonn, Germany

    Laura Klösges, Carsten Meyer, Jack Boschewitz, Magnus Andersson, Hans H. Schild & Kai Wilhelm

  2. Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universitätsklinikum Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Str. 25, 53127, Bonn, Germany

    Christian Rudlowski

Authors
  1. Laura Klösges
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Laura Klösges.

Additional information

The work was performed at the University Hospital of Bonn, Germany.

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Klösges, L., Meyer, C., Boschewitz, J. et al. Long-term Outcome of Peripherally Implanted Venous Access Ports in the Forearm in Female Cancer Patients. Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol 38, 657–664 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00270-014-0975-1

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