Initial experience with Healthport miniMax (R) and other peripheral arm ports in patients with advanced gastrointestinal malignancy

While central ports are located at the chest, peripheral ports (PP) are ins erted at the patients' forearms. Two new PPs (Healthport miniMax(R) and Bar d Titan Low Profile Port) and two well-established types (Port-A-Cath(R) P. A.S. Port and PeriPort(TM) peripheral access system) were tested. 125 patie nts were given the choice between PP and chest ports, and 100 of them chose PP. PP were inserted in patients suffering from gastrointestinal malignanc ies (n = 95), AIDS (n = 3) or Crohn's disease (n = 2). The first 30 patient s were prospectively monitored by repeated color-coded duplex sonography ex aminations in order to evaluate clinically inapparent thromboses. Easy perc utaneous needle puncture as early as 1 day after surgery was possible using innovative ports with large septa. The following complications arose durin g 12,688 catheter placement days: difficult implantation (n = 5), intolerab le pain at the insertion site (n = 1), port erosion of the skin (n = 1), ca theter leaks (n = 4), disconnection of the catheter from the port (n = 1), systemic infections (n = 4), local infections (n = 6) and symptomatic deep vein thrombosis (n = 8) despite anticoagulation in 1 of these. Only systemi c infections and intolerable pain resulted in PP explantation (n = 5); othe r complications were easily dealt with. No serious or life-threatening comp lications occurred. Copyright (C) 1999 S. Karger AG, Baser.