Radiologic placement of a low profile implantable venous access port in a pediatric population

To evaluate the feasibility and complications of placement of a low-profile venous access port in the chest in children requiring long-term venous access.

A low-profile peripheral arm port (PAS port; Sims Deltec, St. Paul, MN, USA) was implanted in the chest in 22 children over a 4-year period. The mean age of the study group was 6 years (range: 9 months to 20 years). Ports were placed for the administration of chemotherapy, hyperalimentation and frequent blood sampling. Sonographic guidance was used to access the internal jugular or subclavian vein in each case. A review of all inpatient and outpatient charts was undertaken to assess catheter performance and complications.

Access to the central venous circulation was successfully achieved in each case without complication. Ports remained implanted for 6579 catheter-days (mean: 299 days). Ten ports have been removed. Of three patients (13%) experiencing device-related infections (0.45 infections/1000 catheter days), two (9.1%) were unresponsive to antibiotics and removed (0.3 infections/1000 catheter days). One port was removed because of pain in the shoulder adjacent to the port implantation site. One port was removed because of difficult access. The final port was removed in order to place a dual-lumen catheter prior to bone marrow transplant. Twelve ports remain implanted. Aspiration occlusion occurred in four patients (18%). Deep venous thrombosis did not occur in any patient.

Low-profile chest ports placed by interventional radiologists in the interventional radiology suite can be placed in children as safely as traditional chest ports placed in the operating room. The incidence of infection, venous thrombosis and aspiration occlusion is comparable to that of ports placed operatively.