Secondary malposition of a PICC-port due to heavy physical exercise: A case report

Physical exercise is often encouraged in cancer patients, mainly for the purpose of rehabilitation and for its psychological benefit. Some authors also suggest that exercise-specially in patient with peripherally inserted central venous access devices-may contribute to reduce the risk of catheter-related thrombosis. Still, the impact of physical exercise on the risk of device-related complications is not yet defined.We report a case of secondary migration of the tip of an arm port, caused by high-intensity exercise in a woman undergoing chemotherapy because of ovarian cancer. Tip migration was suspected because of malfunction (persistent withdrawal occlusion) and diagnosis established after ultrasound examination and chest x-ray.Even if exercise may yield benefit in the cancer patient on chemotherapy, the risk of mechanical complication of the venous access device-such as tip migration-should be considered in the case of high-intensity exercise.