[Eleven years of experience with permanently implanted port-systems in 329 cancer patients]

Intravenous port-systems are predominantly used for long-term chemotherapy in oncology. 164 of our patients were implanted with a Port-a-Cath and 165 patients with a Chemosite system. Indications, the duration of implantation, the duration of use, the access and complications were analysed. This retrospective study analyses 329 tumor patients, who have been treated at the Cancer Center Klinik im Park from September 1987 until February 1998. The preferred access of implantation were: v. subclavia (47%) and v. cephalica (35%). The average duration of implantation was 279 days for the Port-a-Cath system and 443 days for the Chemosite system. The most frequent complication immediately following surgery was a pneumothorax in 4% of the patients. The frequency of late complications was: thromboses 2%, infections 4%. This study analyses our experiences with fully implantable permanent intravenous catheter-systems in 329 tumor patients. These catheters can be used for very long periods with a low rate of complications.