Percutaneous placement of peritoneal port-catheter in patients with malignant ascites

We report our experience with a radiologically placed peritoneal port-catheter in palliation of malignant ascites. Port-catheters were successfully placed under ultrasonographic and fluoroscopic guidance in seven patients (five women, two men) who had symptomatic malignant ascites. The long-term primary patency rate was 100%. The mean duration of catheter function was 148 days. Seven patients had a total of 1040 port-days. Two patients received intraperitoneal chemotherapy via the port-catheter. There were no procedure-related mortality and major complications. Minor complications such as ascitic fluid leakage from the peritoneal entry site, migration of the catheter tip to the right upper quadrant, and reversal of the port reservoir occurred in four patients. None of these complications affected the drainage and required port explantation. In patients with symptomatic malignant ascites, a peritoneal port-catheter can provide palliation and eliminate multiple hospital visits for repeated paracentesis with high patency and low complication rates.