Experience with implanted subcutaneous ports for intraperitoneal chemotherapy in ovarian cancer

Peritoneal access devices (port-catheters) were subcutaneously implanted in 125 patients for intraperitoneal chemotherapy of ovarian cancer. In 98% of patients Pharmacia's Port-A-Cath was used. Four hundred sixty-five intraperitoneal courses were given to these patients, with a median of 4 courses per patient (range 0-8). The first course was given 0-60 days (median 11 days) after Port-A-Cath implantation. In 125 patients, 27 (21.6%) complications of severe or moderate degree during the treatment were registered. In 81% of the patients, the treatment was given according to chemotherapy protocol as outlined. In 7% of the patients, early termination was related to the use of Port-A-Cath and in 12% related to chemotherapy. The probability for proper functioning of Port-A-Cath was 0.74 at 6 months and 0.69 at 1 year after implantation. The mean observation time was 13.6 months, median 10.5 (range 0.3-59.6 months). Total patient access time was 141.9 years. In conclusion, the complication rate after implantation of intraperitoneal access devices is acceptable. The rate of infections associated with the system is lower than that associated with open catheter systems.