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Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Author Spotlight: Hickman Catheter Use for Long-Term Vascular Access in a Preclinical Swine Model
Published on: March 31, 2023
Survival and Complications After Placement of Central Venous Access Ports for Palliative Chemotherapy: A
Olivia A Sacks1,2, Priyanka Chugh1,2, Katherine He1,3
1Department of Surgery, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, MA, USA.
Background:
Given the lack of empiric recommendations for vascular access for palliative chemotherapy, we aimed to analyze survival and complications after placement of central venous access ports for palliative chemotherapy.
Methods:
We performed a retrospective chart review of 135 patients undergoing port placement for palliative chemotherapy at a single institution from January 2015 - July 2020.
Results:
The median age was 68 (range 47-91). Median overall survival was 7.7 months (95% CI, 6.5-8.9 months). The rate of port-related complications was 11.1% (15 of 135). Patients who developed port-related complications required corrective surgery in 73.3% (11 of 15) of cases. Results were similar among all patients, regardless of their primary diagnoses or central venous access sites.
Conclusions:
Increased awareness about the limited survival of patients after port placement for palliative chemotherapy, and their significant complication risk could be used to help patients and their providers make value-aligned decisions about vascular access.
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