Port-A-Cath: a study of complication rates

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Vascular Access
• Oncology Support

Background:

• Long-term intravenous medication administration, particularly chemotherapy, presents challenges in maintaining reliable venous access.
• Totally implanted venous access devices (TIVADs) have emerged as a widely adopted solution for these challenges.
• The Port-A-Cath is a specific type of TIVAD marketed for its safety and reliability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Port-A-Cath device.
• To determine the types and incidence rates of complications associated with Port-A-Cath implantation and use.
• To provide a clinical assessment of this venous access method based on patient data.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of medical records for 160 patients who underwent Port-A-Cath implantation.
• Data collection spanned from January 1986 to December 1988 at Sioux Valley Hospital.
• Analysis focused on identifying and categorizing all reported complications.

Main Results:

• Complications identified included pneumothorax, extravasation of infusates, difficulty with blood aspiration, device occlusion, and sepsis.
• The study quantifies the rates of these specific complications in the studied patient cohort.
• Detailed findings on complication incidence are presented.

Conclusions:

• While TIVADs like the Port-A-Cath offer a viable solution for venous access, potential complications require careful monitoring.
• Understanding complication types and rates is crucial for optimizing patient care and device management.
• Further literature review complements the study's findings on TIVAD performance.