Totally implantable central venous access ports for high-dose chemotherapyadministration and autologous stem cell transplantation: analysis of overall and septic complications in 68 cases using a single type of device

Sixty-eight patients suffering from breast cancer, ovarian cancer, lymphoma or multiple myeloma were treated with high-dose chemotherapy and autologou s stem cell transplantation. They underwent placement of a central venous p ort via the subclavian vein for delivery of chemotherapy and reinfusion of stem cells, All patients were followed prospectively for device-related and overall complications, comprising a total of 18 213 days in situ (median: 267 days, range: 90-480), One patient experienced a pneumothorax (1.4%) spo ntaneously resolved, as an acute toxicity. Two patients (2.8%, 0.1 episodes /1000 days of use) were forced to have the port removed due to infection, c aused by Streptococcus mitis in one case, while the causative agent was not identified by laboratory tests in the second. The other 66 patients comple ted the therapeutic programme, including peripheral stem cell reinfusions a nd supportive care, such as i.v. antibiotics, antiemetics or fluid administ ration and blood sample collection, without additional complications. In co nclusion, the use of totally implantable central venous access ports has re sulted in good long-term access to central veins, in spite of the severe ne utropenia and increased septic risk of this category of oncology patients.