[Complications and outcome of implantable infusion pumps: apropos of 60 cases]

The aim of this study was to analyse the complications and the outcome in 59 patients with 60 implantable ports for cancer chemotherapy. Perioperative complications included: subcutaneous haematoma (n = 6), wrong position of the catheter tip (n = 2), accidental intravascular injection of lidocaine with adrenaline (n = 1), vagal reflex (n = 1) and pneumothorax (n = 1). Late complications included extravasation of drugs (n = 4), wound dehiscence (n = 1), spontaneous migration of the catheter tip (n = 2), venous thrombosis (n: = 2), septicaemia (n = 6), local discomfort (n = 6) and ports' obstruction (n = 15). In 11 cases, repermeabilization was possible with heparin or streptokinase. Patients were followed up to 40 months, 37% died with a patent port, 6% died with an obstructed port and 45% are still alive with a functional port. Twelve percent of the ports were removed. The lack of life-threatening complications, the high rate of satisfied patients (85%) and the long mean period of use (11 months) in this study are similar to those published in the literature and confirm the value of implantable ports for chemotherapy.