Radiological placement of chest ports in pediatric oncology patients

Area of Science:

• Interventional Radiology
• Pediatric Oncology
• Vascular Access Devices

Background:

• Central venous access is crucial for pediatric oncology patients requiring long-term chemotherapy.
• Traditional surgical placement of chest ports can be associated with certain risks and complications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the procedural and follow-up outcomes of radiological chest port placement in pediatric oncology patients.
• To assess the safety, efficacy, and complication rates of image-guided chest port insertion in a pediatric population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a single center's data for 37 pediatric oncology patients (age 4 months to 16 years) who underwent chest port placement.
• All procedures were performed in an interventional radiology suite using internal jugular vein access under imaging guidance.

Main Results:

• All chest ports were successfully implanted with a 0% peri-procedural complication rate.
• The infection rate was 2.7% (0.12/1,000 catheter days), and malfunction rate was 8.1% (0.36/1,000 catheter days), with successful treatment for thrombosis.
• No ports required revision or removal due to blockage or malposition, and complication rates were comparable to surgical placement.

Conclusions:

• Chest port insertion in children can be safely and effectively performed in interventional radiology suites under imaging guidance.
• Radiological placement offers high technical success and complication rates comparable to surgical methods, making it a viable option for pediatric oncology patients.