OUTCOME OF 350 IMPLANTED CHEST PORTS PLACED BY INTERVENTIONAL RADIOLOGISTS

PURPOSE: To determine the outcome of implanted chest ports placed by i nterventional radiologists. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between June 1993 a nd July 1996, a single institution placed 350 implanted chest ports in 346 patients by means of the subclavian vein approach, The medical re cords of these patients were reviewed to determine the outcome of the ports, Ports were implanted for chemotherapy (n = 341), blood transfus ion (n = 7), or antibiotics (n = 2). RESULTS: Immediate complications were seven (2%) pneumothoraces and one (0.3%) hematoma, Four (1.1%) of the pneumothoraces necessitated hospital admission and treatment with a chest tube, The remaining three were managed on an outpatient basis , One was successfully treated in the interventional suite by catheter suction, Two pneumothoraces were observed and resolved spontaneously, Mean time of patient follow-up was 260 days (range, 22-929 days). Tot al time of follow-up was 91,000 catheter days, Delayed complications w ere 10 cases of thrombosis (2.9% or 0.11 per 1,000 catheter days) of t he subclavian vein, four infections (1.1% or 0.04 per 1,000 catheter d ays), four catheter coiling or tip malpositions (1.1% or 0.04 per 1,00 0 catheter days), three catheter occlusions (0.9% or 0.03 per 1,000 ca theter days), and one catheter leak. (0.3% or 0.01 per 1,000 catheter days), Six (1.7%) ports had to be removed as a result of a delayed com plication. CONCLUSION: Chest port implantation by interventional radio logists within the radiology department is a successful and safe proce dure with complication rates equivalent to, or lower than, those repor ted in surgical placement series.