LONG-TERM FEMORAL VEIN CENTRAL VENOUS ACCESS IN CANCER-PATIENTS

Subclavian percutaneous access with reservoir placement has been shown to be difficult or contraindicated in some patients. Of 465 cancer pa tients who required a port placement between January 1992 to January 1 995, 41 (8.8%) had alternative percutaneous femoral access with a tota lly implantable port reservoir located in the abdomen because of the i naccessibility to subclavian or jugular veins and/or the presence of m assive cutaneous metastases or severe radiodermitis in the upper part of the torso. Overall implant days was 9880, with an average of 241 da ys (range: 65-445). Ports were alternatively used for chemotherapy and nutritional purposes in 11 of 41 patients. Late morbidity causing the removal of the implanted ports was observed in two of 41 (4.9%) and i n 25 of 424 (5.9%) patients in the femoral and subclavian series, resp ectively (P = 0.86). The femoral percutaneous access for totally impla ntable port devices appears to be a safe alternative for cancer patien ts when subclavian and/or jugular vein catheterization and reservoir i n the upper part of the torso is contraindicated.