Use of subcutaneous venous access ports to treat refractory ascites

To assess the feasibility of peritoneal ports for management of patients wi th cirrhotic refractory ascites, 10 ports were placed in nine patients for frequent outpatient paracentesis. Retrospective review and telephone interv iews were used to assess port performance. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed a median duration of port patency of 255 days. In 1,557 port days, four acce ss problems prompted further interventional evaluation. Three cases of bact erial peritonitis and one catheter obstruction developed. The use of subcut aneous venous access ports to allow control of ascites by nursing personnel is a promising alternative for management of patients with refractory asci tes. Additional studies are needed to determine long-term effectiveness and safety.