COMPLICATIONS AND OUTCOME OF IMPLANTABLE INFUSION PORTS - ANALYSIS OF60 CASES

The aim of this study was to analyse the complications and the outcome in 59 patients with 60 implantable ports for cancer chemotherapy. Per ioperative, complications included : subcutaneous haematoma (n = 6), w rong position of the catheter tip (n = 2), accidental intravascular in jection of lidocaine with adrenaline (n = 1), vagal reflex (n = 1) and pneumothorax (n = 1). Late complications included extravasation of dr ugs (n = 4), wound dehiscence (n = 1), spontaneous migration of the ca theter tip (n = 2), venous thrombosis (n : = 2), septicaemia (n = 6), local discomfort (n = 6) and ports' obstruction (n = 15). In 11 cases, repermeabilisation was possible with heparin or streptokinase. Patien ts were followed up to 40 months, 37 % died with a patent port, 6 % di ed with an obstructed port and 45 % are still alive with a functional port. Twelve percent of the ports were removed. The lack of life-threa tening complications, the high rate of satisfied patients (85 %) and t he long mean periode of use (11 months) in this study are similar to t hose published in the literature and confirm the value of implantable ports for chemotherapy.