Utility and complications of permanent venous access devices (PVAD) in oncological treatments - Follow-up of 100 cases

Background Permanent venous access devices (PVAD) are nowadays routinely im planted and used with some morbidity for the oncological treatments. The ad equate timing of implantation based on the number of treatments, the surviv al rate and the complications has not yet been well estimated. Methods, A hundred permanent venous access devices placed in oncological pa tients were followed-up prospectively, Results. No mortality was seen due to the surgical act. A 11% morbidity rat e was noted, largely due to infections, with 6 patients needing a second su rgery. On average, 6 chemotherapy cycles were done after placing of the per manent venous access device. Conclusions. Due to these results and an average survival rate of 10.7 mont hs, we suggest the placing of a permanent venous access device early in the management of oncological patients requiring chemotherapy cycles, so as to increase the comfort of the patient and to safeguard his peripheral venous system.